Latest news with #contracting
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
B&B Builders Expands Services Across Wichita and Kansas City: Leading the Way in Custom Concrete, Garage Builds, and Covered Parking Solutions
"B & B Builders, Inc." B&B Builders, a trusted name in both Wichita and Kansas City's construction landscape, proudly announces its continued growth and service expansion. Specializing in Concrete Contracting, General Contracting, Custom Garages, and Covered Parking Solutions, the company sets new standards in quality, durability, and customer satisfaction. WICHITA, KS - In an era where craftsmanship and reliability are often overlooked, B&B Builders, Inc. is redefining what it means to be a trustworthy contractor in the Wichita area. With over a decade of service excellence, this Kansas-based firm continues to lead the market with its commitment to quality, attention to detail, and personalized customer care. Specializing in concrete contracting, custom garage construction, covered parking structures, and full-scale general contracting, B&B Builders is setting new standards across both residential and commercial sectors. What separates B&B Builders from typical contracting companies is their start-to-finish project management model. Every job begins with a personalized consultation to understand the client's needs, space, and long-term goals. From there, the B&B team handles everything — including permits, material sourcing, site preparation, construction, and final inspection — ensuring a stress-free experience and a final product that speaks for itself. 'We don't just build structures — we build trust,' says Stan Stiverson, Founder of B&B Builders. 'Our clients aren't just looking for a slab of concrete or an enclosed garage. They're investing in safety, longevity, and peace of mind. We take that responsibility seriously.' B&B Builders is widely recognized as one of the most reliable concrete contractors in Wichita. The company offers a wide array of services including: Concrete Contracting: Driveways, patios, slabs, and foundations built to withstand Kansas weather. Patios and Walkways – designed for beauty and built to last through Kansas weather conditions. Concrete Slabs and Foundations – executed with structural integrity for homes, sheds, shops, and commercial builds Custom Garages: Personalized builds designed for functionality, security, and curb appeal. Covered Parking Solutions: Residential and commercial carports tailored for durability and aesthetics. General Contracting: Full-service project oversight, from permits to completion. Whether it's stamped concrete for decorative appeal or reinforced slabs for heavy-use areas, B&B Builders brings engineering expertise and aesthetic sensibility to every project. Custom Garages Built to Fit Your Life. Demand for custom garages continues to rise in the Midwest, and B&B Builders is at the forefront of this growing trend. Clients can choose from a wide range of layouts, sizes, finishes, and roofing styles — all tailored to match their existing home design or business facility. From detached two-car garages to fully integrated storage + parking units with electrical and insulation options, every structure is engineered to offer maximum utility and curb appeal. The company works with premium materials and up-to-date building codes to ensure that each garage is not only visually impressive but also functionally superior. Covered Parking for Protection and Value With unpredictable weather and rising property value concerns, covered parking is more than a convenience — it's a necessity. B&B Builders designs and installs custom carports, RV shelters, and covered work areas that add instant protection and value to any property. Their solutions range from minimalist metal-frame carports to complex covered structures integrated with storage and lighting. These builds are popular among both residential homeowners and commercial property managers looking to protect fleets, guest vehicles, or outdoor equipment. General Contracting Done Right In addition to specialized builds, B&B Builders continues to provide comprehensive general contracting services across Wichita and the surrounding communities. From home renovations to office build-outs, the team brings a wealth of experience, trusted subcontractor relationships, and a firm commitment to timelines and budgets. Clients appreciate the firm's transparent communication style, project tracking updates, and no-surprise pricing. With a streamlined project management approach, B&B Builders ensures that every client — whether a first-time homeowner or seasoned developer — receives the same high standard of service and support. A Trusted Name in Wichita Construction The company's deep roots in Wichita and its surrounding communities have helped it grow largely through word-of-mouth referrals and return clients. With a long list of completed projects, glowing testimonials, and a commitment to continuous improvement, B&B Builders remains a top choice for those seeking quality construction services in Kansas. Those interested in learning more about the company's full range of services — or requesting a no-obligation consultation — are encouraged to visit or call (316) 945-3232 for Wichita & (913) 453-3232 for Kansas City. Media Contact Company Name: B & B Builders, Inc. Contact Person: Stan Silverson Email: Send Email Phone: 316-945-2322 Address: 2411 West 63rd St N City: Wichita State: Kansas Country: United States Website:
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Los Angeles launches online hub to connect businesses with the city
As businesses across Los Angeles prepare for a series of worldwide events across the next few years, the city is launching a way to make it easier for them to deal with government procedures more efficiently. Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday announced the Business Navigator during the city's ProcureLA Summit, which is linking local companies with contracting opportunities with the city of L.A. The portal allows business owners to apply for permits, loans and jobs, pay taxes and bills, request inspections and services, learn about programs and contact officials through the use of drop-down menus on the navigator page. The navigator, according to Bass, is a way to help business owners know they're a priority for the city. "Los Angeles is building the future, and we're making sure small businesses help lead the way," Bass said. "This summit breaks down barriers, creates access, and sends a clear message: we are investing in local talent to deliver real results for our communities." The push to help out business owners comes at a time when tourism is expected to ramp up with major events coming to L.A. In the next three years, L.A. will host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a Super Bowl in 2027 and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. "Events like that, people come [from] all over," Bass said Thursday. "My dream is, you land at LAX, you have a QR code, that QR code tells you about all of the neighborhoods around the city." Bass added that the city's goal is to prepare the businesses across L.A. for the influx of tourism. "That's going to be on us, to make sure [business owners] know about the opportunities," she said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
SENS WARREN, SHEEHY: Pentagon wastes billions with devastating repair rules. We're working together to stop it
Our defense industrial base is stumbling. For years, the U.S. Department of Defense – under both Republicans and Democrats – failed to address one of the most fundamental issues within our military industrial complex, perverse incentives for contractors. But with the recently announced Army Transformation Initiative, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and General Randy George are taking a major step to stand up for soldiers and strengthen our military readiness. Driscoll's plan will help end one source of waste, fraud, and abuse. Every other military branch should follow their lead – and, if they do, they will have our bipartisan support. The Department of Defense is the largest federal agency, consuming half the discretionary budget the federal government spends every year. In 2023, for example, DoD spent almost $450 billion on contracts. But buried down deep in the fine print, many of those contracts included restrictions that prevent our troops from fixing their own weapons and equipment. That fine print means that every time something breaks, DoD must call the contractor, schedule a repair visit, and pay a hefty fee. For some contracts, the repairs are more profitable than the original sale – a dynamic that represents how years of broken bureaucracy has slowed our acquisition process and driven costs higher and higher. Our military buys a lot of gear – from tanks to helicopters to night vision goggles, and the process to buy that gear is longer and more complicated than ever. Even worse, because our service members often can't make any repairs, they can be stuck waiting weeks or months, even for simple problems they could fix themselves with a little know-how and a 3D printer. Driscoll has identified these problems in the Army, but right to repair restrictions have spread across the military. The Navy was forced to rely on flying contractors out to sea for maintenance. The Air Force is struggling to keep its planes ready for combat because of restrictions and companies that won't even negotiate. Every hour these servicemembers can't fix their own weapons undermines their readiness to meet their assignments. Instead of working to help the military be ready for battle, these contractors are focused on squeezing out more revenue. These restrictions lead to three critical problems: readiness, cost and lack of competition. First, when contractors stop soldiers from fixing their own equipment, it threatens military readiness. All around the country, maintainers were struggling to keep the F-35 flying because Lockheed Martin won't give them the data they need to fix damage to basic parts. When our military could fix a helicopter in Korea themselves, they saved 207 days and roughly $1.8 million. Our military can't afford to wait 207 days to get a helicopter back online. And, in the most extreme cases, our military can't afford to have soldiers unable to repair equipment in the heat of battle, either because the contract has tied their hands or because they haven't had the chance to learn how. Imagine how frustrating it would be to be in the field up against an enemy, suffer an equipment breakdown, and there would be nothing to do about it. We need to end these dangerous right-to-repair restrictions so that our military is always ready. Second, repair restrictions waste billions of dollars. If Boeing got the Pentagon to agree that only Boeing can repair equipment, what stops them from charging whatever they want for that fix? Suddenly a $0.16 clip costs $20, and the defense budget rises even higher. That is a terrible deal for the taxpayer. By some estimates, giving the military the right to repair would save us billions. But more importantly, it would reinvigorate the operational resilience of our forward-deployed elements and allow them to self-sustain. And third, letting a contractor monopolize repairs doesn't just hurt taxpayers, it hurts small businesses that otherwise could compete for the repair work, depressing competition and thinning out our industrial base. Why would a small business start manufacturing a safety clip when the military is forced to go to its larger competitor to buy it? And equally alarmingly, if that big contractor decided one day to stop producing the part, the military would be out of luck because the contractor had the only game in town. To be sure, the military created this monopolistic environment, incentivizing consolidation through decades of bureaucratic process. Now they are reaping the whirlwind. We need a more diverse array of contractors who can bring free market competition to our defense space, driving costs down and efficiencies up. Until now, the military has enabled a broken status quo, handing over billions of dollars and hoping that there is no emergency when the equipment they need is sidelined. Meanwhile, over 70% of voters support giving the military the right to repair their own equipment. But Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll showed real leadership. He stood up to a broken bureaucracy and announced that every new Army contract would explicitly guarantee the right of the Army to fix its own equipment. That's a big deal. Every hour these servicemembers can't fix their own weapons undermines their readiness to meet their assignments. Instead of working to help the military be ready for battle, these contractors are focused on squeezing out more revenue. The new Army policy is a breakthrough in our fight to empower soldiers, but unless every single military service follows his lead, taxpayers will keep getting ripped off. And, because this is a directive from the secretary, a subsequent secretary could go back to the way things were before. But we have a plan to solve that problem. In the coming weeks, we will be introducing a bipartisan bill that would make changes to right to repair permanent. With a single change in the law, we can boost military readiness and cut costs by allowing servicemembers to repair their own equipment. On both sides of the aisle, many of us agree that waste, fraud and abuse are real problems in our government – and it's worse when it threatens our military readiness. It's time to show servicemembers we've got their backs and restore their right to fix their own equipment. Republican Tim Sheehy represents Montana in the United States Senate. He is a father, husband, former Navy SEAL team leader, aerial firefighter and entrepreneur. Sheehy completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a Navy SEAL officer and team leader, earning the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and the Purple Heart.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump administration moves to upend $37B affirmative action program
The Trump administration moved Wednesday to dismantle one of the federal government's largest and longest-standing affirmative action programs, siding with two White-owned contracting businesses that challenged its constitutionality. In a motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the Justice Department said that a Transportation Department program that has carved out an estimated $37 billion for minority- and women-owned businesses violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution. If a judge approves the proposed settlement, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) will be prohibited from awarding contracts based on race and sex, effectively ending its founding mission. 'Over the past five decades, the federal government imposed a policy of race discrimination in the roadbuilding industry,' said Dan Lennington, deputy counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, the conservative nonprofit representing the plaintiffs. 'Thousands of workers and small businesses have been victimized, and hundreds of billions have been spent, distorting the market and inflating construction costs for the taxpayers. That ends now.' The settlement is still subject to challenge by a coalition of businesses that intervened in the case after President Donald Trump took office, arguing that the program is essential to removing entrenched barriers that minorities and women face in the $759 billion contracting sector. First authorized by Congress in 1983, the program serves roughly 49,000 businesses designated as 'disadvantaged.' The case was brought in 2023 by Mid-America Milling and Bagshaw Trucking, both Indiana-based transportation companies whose owners alleged they lost out on jobs when the agency began awarding contracts through the 'largest, and perhaps oldest affirmative action program in U.S. history.' The DBE was most recently authorized under the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, as well as through the $105 billion in federal funding for airport and flight safety improvements. In September, U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, a George W. Bush appointee, partially blocked the program on the grounds the plaintiffs were 'likely' to succeed on their claims. A permanent decision was pending before the parties agreed to settle. The DBE program, which is funded by the U.S. government but administered by states, earmarks at least 10 percent of the federal funding for transportation infrastructure to women- and minority-owned contracting firms. At the time of the ruling, the Biden administration argued that the DBE was necessary to help remedy the effects of past and ongoing discrimination in government contracting. But since taking office in January, Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders seeking to end any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures by the government and beyond. The Justice Department, which a few months ago defended the program under President Joe Biden, wrote in Wednesday's filing that it 'reevaluated' its position in light of the June 2023 Supreme Court decision banning race-conscious college admissions. Even before Trump's return to the White House, a number of federal affirmative action programs had been enjoined by the courts on constitutional grounds, with plaintiffs alleging that the Supreme Court's college affirmative action decision barred the government from granting benefits based on race. In September 2023, a Tennessee judge ruled that a Small Business Administration 8(a) program for minority contractors could no longer presume certain ethnic groups were inherently 'disadvantaged' — a key requirement to receive set-asides for government contracts. In March 2024, a federal judge in Texas ordered the 55-year-old Minority Business Development Agency to open its doors to all, including White entrepreneurs. Those court cases were part of a broader wave of resistance to DEI in higher education and the private sector, as well as the idea that certain racial groups are inherently more disadvantaged than others. Proponents of the DBE program — and others that grant preferences based on race and sex — say its loss could prove devastating for underrepresented groups in the government contracting world. Such programs were created in the 1960s and 1970s to address pervasive race and gender discrimination in the private and contracting sectors, the effects of which they say have not been fully erased. Supporters say many businesses will fold if the programs go away.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Indian expat wins $1 million for second time in Duty Free draw
Luck came twice to a 60-year old Dubai-based Indian expat who won $1 million for the second time at Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw held on Wednesday, May 28. Paul Jose Mavely, who hails from Kerala, hit the jackpot for the second time in less than nine years. A resident of Dubai for 38 years now, he shared the cost of the ticket with his 17 friends, who have been participating in the Dubai Duty Free promotion since 1999. They have been alternating the name on the ticket for each series whenever they purchase. Mavely first won $1 million in November 2016, in the Millennium Millionaire Series 228 with ticket number 0972, when he shared the ticket cost with his nine friends. 'I'm very thankful to Dubai Duty Free for this second win,' said Mavely, a father of two who works as a site supervisor for a small contracting company. He is the 251st Indian national to have won $1 million in the Millennium Millionaire promotion since 1999.
