Construction Dive's Friday Punch List series aims to share major construction headlines from the week that contractors may have missed.

Construction industry news continued to emerge this week. Amid earnings season, the Washington Commanders named a joint venture for its reportedly $3.8 billion stadium, while the Associated Builders and Contractors disclosed the industry's lowest project backlog since January.

Here are other headlines construction executives should know.

Cumming Group acquires New York project management firm

Construction cost consultancy Cumming Group has acquired a company in its own backyard. The firm has acquired TLM Group, a project management firm and owner's representative, Cumming Group told Construction Dive. Both companies are headquartered in New York City, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

TLM focuses on data center projects for financial institutions, hyperscale data centers, and colocation providers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, according to the announcement. The company will be folded into Cumming's advanced technology division, which was formed in March to address surging demand for data centers and high-tech facilities.

"When we launched the advanced technology division earlier this year, the vision was to build the industry's premier consultancy serving the world's most complex technology and industrial projects," Kevin Klein, executive vice president of advanced technology at Cumming Group, told Construction Dive via email. "Welcoming TLM Group accelerates that vision with their highly respected team and deep experience in managing data center construction projects from concept to completion."

— Matthew Thibault

Stanley Black & Decker invests $1B in innovation and skilled trades

Stanley Black & Decker will invest $1 billion to develop next-generation tools and expand training opportunities to grow the skilled trades workforce, according to a Wednesday announcement. The New Britain, Connecticut-based tool maker plans to complete the investment by 2028, with half of the $1 billion going to research and development to create next-generation tools for industry professionals, and the other half supporting capital expenditures and long-term investments to further strengthen U.S. manufacturing and new product development.

Additionally, Stanley Black & Decker has committed $60 million by 2030 — with $27 million already deployed through its DeWalt Grow the Trades program. The program aims to expand training programs and create new pathways into skilled trades careers.

"By advancing technology, investing in U.S. manufacturing, and expanding skilled trades training, Stanley Black & Decker is helping build a stronger workforce and a more resilient future for communities across the country," Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, said in the announcement.

— Zachary Phillips

Jacobs adds Atlanta office, wins Georgia transportation contract

Jacobs is getting busier in Georgia. The Dallas-based company recently opened a new office at Promenade Tower in Midtown Atlanta, following more than a year of planning and construction, according to a Monday announcement. The office serves as a strategic hub for Jacobs' projects in infrastructure, transportation, environment, and advanced facilities in the region.

Elsewhere in the state, the Georgia Department of Transportation recently awarded Jacobs a five-year engineering and design contract covering transportation infrastructure across 27 counties. According to an August 3 press release, the work will support road and infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity and boost economic growth.

"Communities across Georgia continue to grow, placing new demands on the transportation network," Tom Meinhart, executive vice president of Jacobs for the Americas, said in the announcement.

— Sebastian Obando

Tutor Perini and Granite project wins

Also this week, two major general contractors with different strategies on profitability announced project wins. Tutor Perini subsidiary Perini Management Services won a $42 million contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a helicopter maintenance hangar at Tabuk Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the company announced Thursday. Domestically, Tutor Perini has been pursuing large-scale projects, which its leadership says is a driver of its profit margins.

Meanwhile, Granite Construction, which focuses on smaller, lower-risk projects, won one that fits that scope. The company received a $31 million early works package from energy storage firm Hydrostor for site infrastructure at its 89-acre Willow Rock Energy Storage Center in Kern County, California, according to a Wednesday announcement. The project aims to build an advanced compressed air energy storage facility that uses excess grid energy during low-demand periods to compress air into underground caverns, releasing it when electricity demand peaks.