TheJobWalk E.56

Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! Bernie Sanders sounds the alarm with a new report warning AI and automation, Eli Lilly advances a $6B manufacturing investment in Alabama, while Kentucky makes a strategic $42M lithium ion battery project. In Washington state, Garco Construction secures a $200M semiconductor expansion, and Kaiser Permanente moves forward on a 7 story hospital tower. Rounding it out, PermitFlow raises $54M in Series B funding. Let’s dive in!

NEWS
Sanders Report Warns of 97M U.S Jobs at Risk

Senator Bernie Sanders has released a new report warning that artificial intelligence and automation could eliminate up to 97 million U.S jobs over the next decade.

Titled The Big Tech Oligarchs’ War Against Workers, the report highlights how companies like Amazon, Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase are already using AI to reduce labor costs, often at the expense of workers. The analysis estimates job displacement across key industries: 89% of fast food and counter workers, 64% of accountants, and 47% of truck drivers are at risk.

The report criticizes corporate executives and government policy choices that have prioritized profits over job security. Sanders proposes measures including a 32 hour workweek, a robot tax, banning stock buybacks, doubling union membership, and expanding employee ownership.

TheJobWalk’s got eyes on this too...

📰 Yondr Advances Virginia Hyperscale Campus(Yondr)
📰 Virginia Lands Largest Capital Investment(VAGov)
📰 Semiconductor Plant Ramps Up in Texas(TI)
📰 Cargill CEO Brian Sikes Joins Deere(John Deere)
📰 Walmart Embraces 3D Printing(CNBC)

PROJECTS
Build of The Week

$6 Billion Eli Lilly and Company, Alabama

Eli Lilly and Company has just released plans to build a new $6+ billion pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

This marks Lilly’s third new U.S. manufacturing site and is reportedly the largest initial private investment in Alabama’s history.

The project will create approximately 450 permanent jobs and around 3,000 construction jobs.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with completion aiming 2032.

• General Contractors: TBD

• Client: Eli Lilly and Company

• Award: Pharmaceutical

• Value: $6+ Billion

• Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Movement in the field:

🥃 From Bourbon to Batteries, Kentucky’s Power Move Hits $42M: Anthro Energy has announced plans to develop the first large scale U.S. owned and operated lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the project involves converting an existing building into a 25 GWh advanced manufacturing hub. Producing 12,000 metric tons a year of Anthro Proteus polymer electrolyte. The facility is expected to create 110 full time jobs and generate 390 construction jobs.

Key Details: General Contractors: TBD, Client: Anthro Energy, Award: Manufacturing Facility, Value: $42 Million, Location: Louisville, Kentucky

🍟 $200M Semiconductor Surge Hits Spokane: Garco Construction secured a $200 million semiconductor expansion for Solstice Advanced Materials in Spokane Valley, Washington. The project recently broke ground and will significantly expand the company’s production footprint. Construction activity is expected to ramp up over the coming years as the facility scales. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2029.

Key Details: Owner/Client: Solstice Advanced Materials, General Contractor: Garco Construction, Inc., Sector: Semiconductor/Advanced Manufacturing, Value: $200 Million, Location: Spokane Valley, Washington

📖 7 Stories of Healing Coming to Sunnyside: Kaiser Permanente is developing a new 7-story, 615,000 sq ft hospital tower at its Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Oregon. The facility will be the first fully electric hospital in the state, featuring all private patient rooms, expanded emergency services, and advanced clinical technology. Announced in March 2025, site work is underway with full construction set to begin in early 2026 and completion expected in 2029. The new tower will expand emergency, surgical, imaging, and family birthing services while keeping the existing hospital fully operational.

Key Details: Owner/Developer: Kaiser Permanente, General Contractor: Andersen Construction, Sector: Healthcare / Hospital Construction, Value: TBD, Location: Clackamas, Oregon

⚡ Hut 8 Cranks the Power in Louisiana: Hut 8 has announced plans for a 245 megawatt data center campus, positioning it as one of the company’s largest infrastructure developments to date. The project is tied to a potential $7 billion investment over multiple phases, focused on large-scale digital infrastructure. The campus is designed to support high-density compute, including AI and next gen workloads. Power delivery and site scalability are central to the design, allowing the facility to expand over time. The project is still in its early stages, with timelines, contractors, and phased delivery schedules to be finalized.

Key Details: Owner/Developer: Hut 8, General Contractor: TBD, Sector: Data Center, Value: Up to $7 Billion (phased), Location: River Bend, Louisiana

What Our Premium Subscribers Are Reading:

🔒 $21B Data Center Investment
🔒 $256M Skanska Data Center
🔒 ERCOT, Eastern Backbone Project
🔒 U.S Contractors Stocks, 2026
🔒 & more!

TECH SPOTLIGHT
$54 Million Series B Funding for PermitFlow

PermitFlow, a construction permit automation startup, has raised $54 million in Series B funding to accelerate product development and team expansion.

Founded in 2021, PermitFlow has supported over $20 billion in permitted construction value across the U.S., serving clients including Amazon, Lennar, IKEA, Toll Brothers, and Service Experts.

The Series B round was led by Accel, with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Felicis, Initialized Capital, Altos Ventures, and Y Combinator.

Builders using PermitFlow report up to 60% shorter project timelines, 90% less workload, and 5x return on investment through AI-powered permitting tools.

WORLD
Goldin Finance 117 Skyscraper, China

Construction has resumed on Goldin Finance 117, a 597 meter (1,959 foot) skyscraper in Tianjin, China, nearly a decade after work was halted due to the collapse of its original developer.

Also known as the "China 117 Tower" or "Walking Stick," the building features 128 stories and was topped out in 2015 before being abandoned. A new construction permit valued at 569 million yuan ($78 million USD) has been issued, with completion now targeted for 2027.

Once finished, Goldin Finance 117 will be among the tallest buildings in China and the world, although it will not surpass the 632 meter Shanghai Tower.

QUICK FIRE ROUND
Your quiz questions for this week:

What is the primary reason mass concrete placements require temperature monitoring?

A. To prevent thermal cracking from heat of hydration // B. To control surface finish quality // C. To accelerate curing time

In commercial construction, which system is typically responsible for maintaining building pressure balance?

A. Make-up air unit (MAU) // B. Exhaust air system // C. Variable air volume (VAV) box

What does a “delegated design” scope most commonly refer to?

A. Design responsibility transferred to the owner // B. Design performed by subcontractor under engineer review // C. Design completed after construction begins

Which trade typically installs firestopping in commercial buildings?

A. Fire protection contractor // B. Mechanical contractor // C. Drywall/framing contractor

What is the primary purpose of a vapor barrier in a wall assembly?

A. Prevent air infiltration // B. Improve insulation R-value // C. Prevent moisture diffusion

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY
just wanna call my mum…

REFLECTION
This week’s question to ask yourself✌️

If everything I’m building today disappeared overnight, what would still be valuable to the people I’ve worked with?

ANSWERS

Q1 A. To prevent thermal cracking from heat of hydration // Q2 B. Make-up air unit (MAU) // Q3 A. Design performed by subcontractor under engineer review // Q4 C. Drywall/framing contractor // Q5 C. Prevent moisture diffusion

How many did you get?