Latest Updates

Look for the Helpers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are…
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Big Data as an Alternative for Traffic Counts during COVID-19

Office employees are working from home, schools are closed, and large gatherings with friends and family are discouraged per social distancing recommendations. As we stay at home, we are reminded of how our community interactions have changed with COVID-19. Several reports and maps display how we are practicing social distancing; those numbers and colors illustrate…
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Together-ish

2020 has been a whirlwind, and it is a year that no one will forget. Over the last several months, we have transitioned into the new normal of working from home. However, it wasn’t so easy at first, and at times it could feel lonely. At Sain, we thrive on company gatherings and fellowship with…
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State of the Industry & Our Market Area

For all of us, the world has totally changed our personal and professional lives. The new normal involves attending virtual meetings and participating in conference calls in place of in-person meetings. I have participated in several Zoom calls where we discussed trends in the marketplace. Recently, I participated in a St. Clair County EDC Board…
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Future Careers: Academy of Craft Training

An industry’s future success is dependent on many factors, but one critical component is the ability to refresh a workforce, replacing retiring professionals with bright-minded individuals who can build fulfilling careers. The starting point for sustaining an industry is education, where the next generation can gain a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. In Birmingham,…
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April Activity Challenge

As we all know from Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy,” and we could all use a little extra happiness right now. In an effort to boost our endorphins and stay connected with one another during quarantine, Sain Associates sponsored the April Activity Challenge. In this challenge, twenty participants selected how…
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Sustainable Stream Protection – 30 feet down

Before the recent COVID-19 lock-down, our projects seemed to be moving at rocket speed, with tight timelines for construction to meet opening dates. The priorities revolved around expediting and obtaining all the required permits as quickly as possible. However, sometimes it can help to step back, take a deep breath, and look at the bigger…
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Retracement of the Terminus of the Huntsville Meridian

The United States Public Land Survey was established by the Land Ordinance of 1785 to plat property for sale and settling. In 1807, Major Thomas Freeman, Deputy U.S. Surveyor, established a marker on Alabama’s state line and began surveying south toward the middle of the state. The line, known as the Huntsville Meridian, is the…
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Safe Work Zones for All: 2020 NWZAW

The beginning of spring signals the start of road construction’s busy season. Road construction crews will begin popping up around the state to repair streets, roads, highways, and bridges. Although work zones play a critical role in providing a safe area for workers, they can be a major cause of congestion. In some instances, many…
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Broadband Divide: Elmore County’s Response to COVID-19

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the nation, schools have turned to online learning as a means to finish the 2020 school year. Many school systems have adapted to this new normal, but what about Alabama’s rural communities that do not have the broadband infrastructure to support the demand? The Alabama State Legislature defines “broadband”…
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