It's been a little more than a year since the city of Joplin, Mo., was ravaged by a tornado, and it appears the natural disaster has brought a silver lining. Due to the massive amount of rebuilding in the city, the construction industry in the area is reportedly booming.
According to The Joplin Globe, total construction permits for the town now total $635 million. The figure includes all permits approved for residential and commercial properties. Contractors have been hard at work on a number of projects since the tornado struck, and it's been beneficial at a time when many other construction companies are struggling.
In April, the town reported construction permits had risen beyond $300 million. Since then, however, Joplin approved a massive $270 million permit for a new hospital in addition to several smaller projects. The figure does not include public projects, such as the $185 million set aside for reconstruction of the city's school system.
McCarthy Building Co. of St. Louis scored the biggest project of the reconstruction when it was awarded the job for the new Mercy Hospital. The 825,000-square-foot medical center is expected to be completed by 2016.
In total, the news source reports the tornado caused approximately $2 billion worth of damage, affecting 7,500 buildings in total. The staggering amount of damage means the $635 million figure could still rise in the coming months as construction crews continue to rebuild.
Contractors hoping to find work on commercial projects need to ensure they have the equipment to get the job done. The online auction site IronPlanet offers a wide array of excavators, aerial work platforms and much more, often at more affordable prices than buying new.
