A Leigh Valley homeowner got a newly built shed for his back yard thanks to the Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls.

The $7 million project, by the Berks County Industrial Authority, will bring a shovel-ready site to accommodate up to 816,000 square feet of light and medium industrial space on the 55-acre campus, that previously served as a military base.

Kay Builders has served the Lehigh Valley for nearly 60 years. Rick Koze has owned and operated the business since 2004. Prior to that he worked on Wall Street for 10 years and as head of finance and mergers & acquisitions for Atlanta based Choicepoint for 10 years.

After extending the state’s stay-at-home order through May 8, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced his first steps towards reopening Pennsylvania businesses.

As the world begins to focus on restarting the economy post-COVID-19, and politicians debate if, when and how to get America back to work, many businesses are trying to determine what standards, laws and precautions will apply and need to be taken when restrictions are eased or lifted.

A Dallas-based developer bought a former restaurant supply store in Allentown for $1.5 million and plans to renovate it into an auto body repair and paint shop.

Advocates for the construction industry say Pennsylvania should allow all construction projects to safely continue. Stalled projects exposed to the weather elements could be damaged and create hazardous conditions, they argue.

Several senators led by Sen. David J. Arnold Jr., (R-Lebanon) are seeking relief for construction firms throughout the state who have largely shuttered their companies and most projects after Gov. Wolf’s business closure order on March 19.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to shutter all non-life-sustaining businesses to control the spread of COVID-19 has effectively halted most construction in Pennsylvania, sending a shockwave through the industry.

In a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf, officials from the five chapters that make up the Associated Builders and Contractors of Pennsylvania, asked for a waiver for the construction-industry-at-large, and clarification of his executive order to shut down businesses.