b'NEWS BRIEFSFordetailsontheseandotherSTONEX Canada will bring togeth-stories, visit tileletter.com erleadingindustryprofessionals for interactive exhibits, educational Constructionemploymentseminarsandproductdemonstra-increases in 40 states and D.C. tionstoexploreandlearnabout The Associated General Contractorsstone,terrazzo,tile,ceramics, (AGC)ofAmericatoolsandequipment,machinery, reported that accord- kitchenandbath,adhesivesand ingtorecentlysealants,cleaningandrestoration releasedAmericaofand exterior applications.LaborDepartment data, between July 2018 and JulyStonExpo/MarmomacatTISE 2019, 40 states added construction2020tofeatureNaturalStone jobs. Texas and Wyoming have big- PavilionAnewNaturalStone gest number and percent of annualPavilionwilldebutprominently jobgains,whileLouisianalags;in the middle of the show fl oor at TexasandUtahexperiencelarg- StonExpo/Marmomac.Thepavil-est one-month gains as Ohio andion is strategically positioned near Alaskahavetheworstdeclines.theNaturalStoneInstituteand Association offi cials said the newthe Natural Stone Council booths jobs totals indicate there is a needandadjacenttotheMarmomac fornewfederalinvestmentsinInternationalPavilion.Natural careerandtechnicaleducationstone companies that have already programs, along with immigrationreservedspaceintheNatural reform that would allow more peo- StonePavilionfor2020include ple with construction skills to enterColdspring,ElbertonGranite the country legally.Association,GrassiPietre,Green MountainSoapstone,Indiana Natural Stone Institute partnersLimestone Institute, Northern Stone withSTONEXCanadaNaturalSupply,Polycor,VermontVerde, StoneInstituteand VM Kaldorf. Future announce-will act as a part- mentsarecomingonadditional nerofSTONEXsuppliers committing soon.Canada,sched-uled for May 12-14, 2020 at The InternationalCentreinToronto. Inadditiontoexhibitingatthe show,NaturalStoneInstitutewill haveaseatontheEducation AdvisoryCommitteewithleading hard surface industry stakeholders. 102 TileLetter | October 2019'