Gulf Coast Steel Initiative—Ongoing Progress

The Gulf Coast Steel Initiative (GCSI) has recently established a Builder Cooperative Agreement, the initiation of training programs at several community colleges and initiatives with both the insurance industry and building codes in order to advance performance criteria.

GCSI is also donating steel framing for the "Miracle Mansion," a home that is being built and donated to raise funds for Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The steel framing for this project has just been completed and an intensive promotion/fundraising campaign will be held in March, culminating in June with a live, one-air drawing for the winner of the home. As a result of this project, the builder of this house now plans to convert his future projects to steel.

Steel framing was also featured at the Housing Solutions Summit, a conference sponsored by the New Orleans Home Builder Association and the City of New Orleans. In the heart of the convention center, more than 14 steel framing providers exhibited in an area dubbed "Steel Central," which included a 600 square foot steel framed structure. Additionally, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is currently planning to build two concept homes in New Orleans that will demonstrate technologies that they advocate builders' use along the Gulf Coast. Both concept homes will feature steel framing as the structural system.

After significant delays in the region, 2007 is expected to be a significant period for rebuilding throughout the region and the GCSI program is currently looking at ways that it can continue to help in these efforts. For example, GCSI will continue training at the community college level in 2007 in order to support work force development for both framing and roofing. Insurance industry and building code officials will be engaged in order to continue the development and recognition of improved construction criteria. The program will also continue to aggressively engage the homebuilders and roofing contractors in development of strong business models to support long-term growth in the region. For more information, contact Larry Williams.