Video & Transcript Research : 'regional development'
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TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Finance (Part II) Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- within the region.
- So we're deploying much less to Region 3. Region 4 is much different.
- It's really region, region three is really one of the only regions where we feel like we're really, really
- So we're deploying much less to region three. A region four, region three is much different.
- Are you seeing the development of the new housing development... ...the rapid spread?
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools.
Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure.
Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/05/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- a tractor um we've also developed a tractor um we've also developed proprietary<00:10:30.640>
- to stimulate research and development to stimulate research and development and<00:27:20.720>
- development account this language is development account this language is structured<00:30:08.360>
- <00:31:40.279>
the in place and so when we develop the in place and so when we develop the - I believe you're a more regional model. So how big is that region going to be?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- From his service on the Galveston City Council to his leadership in real estate and land development,
- All right, you want me do Leo Wilson again for the Galveston Regional Chamberlain.
- Members, I would like to recognize members of the Galveston Regional Chamber.
- Individual against individual, city against suburb and region against region.
- HR 107 by Leo Wilson, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Science, Technology and Telecommunications Sep 23rd, 2025
Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And concerns that are regionally important to us.
- And we're able to address those regional issues, questions, and needs.
- We're always going to be at the table as a regional institution.
- We have several developing projects in agriculture.
- He's also been able to develop certain kinds of organic solar cells.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, Coös and Monadnock, for example, all
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, Coös and Monadnock, for example, all
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, Coös and Monadnock, for example, all
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, Coös and Monadnock, for example, all
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, Coös and Monadnock, for example, all
Summary:
The Housing Committee opened with a public hearing on HB 196, which would repeal the Housing Champion program. Representative Matt Drew, the prime sponsor, argued the program is an unnecessary and poorly targeted subsidy, saying it rewards municipalities after projects are completed and may not be limited to new housing production. He questioned the transparency of the program, cited difficulty finding required annual reports, and noted a fiscal note suggesting the state could recover up to $3 million if obligations are terminated. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the program’s criteria amount to political favoritism or a standard grant process; supporters said the rubric is specific and that municipalities are evaluated against objective requirements. Representative Priest, Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire, and Karen Benfield of Stay Work Play New Hampshire all opposed repeal, saying the program encourages local zoning and regulatory changes, helps smaller communities participate, and supports housing supply and young people’s ability to stay in the state. The hearing on HB 196 was then closed.
The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1405, a bill establishing an affordable housing guarantee program within the Housing Finance Authority. Prime sponsor Representative Chris Muns said the bill would reduce lender risk by guaranteeing up to 80% of principal on qualifying loans for affordable housing, with a cap of $30 million per lender per year and $300 million outstanding at any time. He described the measure as a low-cost public-private partnership backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and said it was identical to a prior Senate bill that had received unanimous bipartisan committee support before dying later in the process. He framed the bill as one part of a broader housing package aimed at financing, infrastructure, workforce, zoning reform, and other housing-related issues.
No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal actions were opening and closing the public hearing on HB 196 and opening the public hearing on HB 1405, with testimony continuing on HB 1405 at the end of the transcript.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Judiciary Jan 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Regional Council. Thank you. Thank you. Are there questions on the strike-all?
- Could that regional council decline an appointment? You are recognized? Yes. Okay.
- This was brought by the regional council that covers my geographic area.
- The regional council cannot represent them for conflict reasons as well.
- My name is Itan Emotin, and I'm the regional council for the second region.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and took up several bills, beginning with SB 762 on offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment that removed a one-year sunset and a reporting requirement to the legislature. Senator Martin and regional counsel Itan Emotin explained that the bill would allow regional counsel offices to handle certain capital conflict cases, with the goal of reducing very high defense costs while maintaining adequate representation. After questions about whether referrals would be optional, compensation, and possible impacts on quality of defense, the committee reported CS for SB 762 favorably by a 9-1 vote.
The committee then considered two uncontested local claims bills. SB 16, relating to relief of Heroberto A. Sanchez Mayan by the City of St. Petersburg, described serious injuries allegedly caused during an arrest and transport by police; counsel for the claimant appeared in support. President Gates spoke against the claims-bill process but said he would support the victim if the bill’s passage were in doubt. The bill was reported favorably 9-1. SB 14, relating to relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County, involved a pedestrian struck by a county bus; the county had admitted fault and settled the case. The bill was reported favorably 9-1, and SB 24, a $500,000 settlement for Lourdes and Edward Latour against Miami-Dade County, was also reported favorably 9-1.
Finally, the committee took up SB 208 on land use and development regulations. Senator McLean presented a negotiated strike-all amendment that would make development application fees more transparent and cost-based, tie them to direct and reasonable indirect review costs, and set subjective compatibility standards for residential projects, with carve-outs for PUDs, master plan communities, and historic districts. Multiple stakeholders appeared or waived in support, including 1,000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, AARP, counties, cities, and planning and conservation groups. The amendment was adopted, and CS for SB 208 was reported favorably 10-0. The committee then adjourned after recording Senator DeSigley’s vote on SB 762.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 18, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- , was more of a greenfield area region.
- But now the area around it is heavily developed, 75% developed all around it.
- If I can mitigate on-site, that's a win for the developer.
- When development begins to occur there, there will be insufficient credits for that development.
- If the comp plan amendment, development permit, or development order is initiated by a private party,
Summary:
The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee heard and acted on several bills related to wetlands, emergency management, fishing licenses, disaster recovery, the Florida Keys, brownfields, wastewater treatment, and spring protection. HB 1175 on mitigation banking drew the most discussion, with supporters saying it would create more predictable release of mitigation credits and help address shortages, while opponents warned it could weaken watershed-based wetland protection and allow credits to be used farther from the impact site. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment making the changes prospective after July 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 12-3 vote.
The committee also considered HB 1535, a broad emergency management strike-all that would expand local storm-preparedness information, debris removal coordination, shelter planning, permitting procedures after storms, limits on post-storm fee increases and moratoria, and changes to election procedures after disasters. Members raised questions about FEMA coordination, shelter standards, impact fees, and the 100-mile post-storm land-use restrictions. After adopting the strike-all, the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute on a 17-0 vote. HB 673, which would extend the same fishing-license convenience to freshwater guides that saltwater captains already have, and HB 705, which extends a public-records exemption for disaster recovery assistance applicants, were both reported favorably without amendment.
Later, the committee approved HB 995 for the Florida Keys, which combines affordable-housing incentives, a Habitat for Humanity bond exemption, an extension of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, and a modest increase in hurricane evacuation time to allow additional residential permits; it was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. HB 733 on brownfields received a technical strike-all and was also reported favorably. HB 645 creating a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems passed unanimously, and HB 691 on a reclaimed-water project tied to Outstanding Florida Springs passed 16-1 after concerns were raised about cost, water quality, and whether the bill could broaden the intent of existing spring-protection law. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation executive Director Mike Ferdinand.
- And representing their organizations as regional directors across our great state is Retta Washington
- We have past regional director Patrice Hillier. Regional secretary, Jasmine Ervin.
- Regional programs chair, Ashley McGee and the area for coordinator, Amanda Wilson.
- healthcare programs for the employees of small employers for the Subcommittee on County and Regional
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm the former HUD region administrator for Region 4.
- It impacts the whole South Florida region.
- It impacts, you know, the whole South Florida region.
- As you mentioned, you paid them roughly $4,000 for a development right.
- On average, how many development rights come out of a purchase that you may make?
Summary:
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process.
Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales.
Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- the region.
- Are you seeing the development of the new housing developments you're talking about, where they're putting
- 2073 Chair: ...the development of the new housing developments you're talking about, where they're putting
- Chair: ...development of the new housing developments you're talking about, where they're putting them
- Chair: ...narrow roads being developed.
Bills:
SB1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools.
Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees.
DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment committee hears HF1012 3/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- recreational vehicle trail development recreational vehicle trail development that<00:09:51.200>
- During that time, the DNR also developed a seven-step process for new trail development that must go
- <00:19:57.840>
and worked diligently to develop and worked diligently to develop and maintain - <00:20:48.880>
The development is done right. The development is done right. - :20:51.120>
Powers Northeastern Regional ATV Joint Powers Northeastern Regional ATV Joint Powers
Summary:
The committee heard House File 1012, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the author moved the bill to be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill. The amendment, adopted on a voice vote, changed the timing for public input in trail planning, removed language on decommissioning trails, and combined the measure with another ATV-fee bill. The author said the bill would unify ATV trail signage policy statewide, align statute with DNR best practices, and not affect the forest trail inventory, existing ATV-accessible miles, or hunting exemptions.
Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives of the Minnesota Public Lands Coalition, tribal officials from the Max Band and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a retired DNR conservation officer, a retired wildlife manager, and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, argued the bill would better protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas, improve transparency and tribal consultation, and make trail planning and enforcement more workable. The EQB said the amended bill’s rulemaking timeline was more workable, and the DNR described its existing multi-step trail review and consultation process.
Opponents, including ATV Minnesota, county commissioners from northern counties, and a representative of the Minnesota Trappers Association, argued the bill would burden or restrict existing trail systems, increase costs, and threaten tourism and local economies. They said current trail development already involves DNR and local review, and that the bill could reduce access for riders, trappers, and other users. In member questions, the author and a Minnesota Association of Townships representative said the bill was intended to codify DNR best practices and bring local governments into the process earlier, while confirming that hunting exemptions were not removed.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, co-ops, and Monadnock, for example,
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, co-ops, and Monadnock, for example,
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, co-ops, and Monadnock, for example,
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, co-ops, and Monadnock, for example,
- Um, or, uh, like the regional economic development corporations, co-ops, and Monadnock, for example,
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 23, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
- We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
- We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
- We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
- We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Varying in urban and rural regions.
- Middlesex and Suffolk is also a regional holding facility.
- In Suffolk, it is also a regional holding.
- developing programs.
- approaches in this regional level.
Summary:
The commission met to continue its review of the county sheriffs’ role in corrections, reentry, and public safety. After approving the prior meeting minutes, the sheriffs completed a lengthy presentation describing how their offices provide regional jail services, women’s programming, mental health and substance use treatment, reentry support, community partnerships, and auxiliary public safety functions such as BCI work, TRIAD, Meals on Wheels, and event support. They emphasized that services are tailored to local needs, that women’s facilities are designed to keep mothers close to family and support reunification, and that programming, housing, and job placement are central to reducing recidivism. They also discussed challenges including K2/synthetic drugs in facilities, gang classification and separation, and the difficulty justice-involved people face obtaining IDs and birth certificates, especially for people from Puerto Rico.
Commission members generally praised the sheriffs’ work and asked for more detail on how regional women’s facilities operate, how community-provider cuts might affect reentry services, how no-cost phone/tablet communication is balanced against programming time, and what the most essential programs are if funding is reduced. The sheriffs said programming must come first, identified mental health, substance use treatment, domestic violence programming, and housing/job placement as critical, and explained that community organizations and the Registry of Motor Vehicles are key partners in reentry. They also described their approach to gang management through classification, separation, and information sharing, and noted that the Registry has become more flexible but Real ID requirements have made documentation barriers more significant.
The commission chair stressed that the purpose of the study is collaboration and improving system performance, not an adversarial effort against the sheriffs or a decarceration debate. Members noted that future meetings would hear from probation in June and the Department of Correction in July, and that the commission would continue gathering information before deciding on next steps. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- But for us as a city, it's about growth and development.
- The road to be developed is about 50 miles, and it's $60 million that a private developer Submitted,
- Currently, the developer owns a large portion.
- developers will pay the cost, frankly, to put roads in.
- You say that as a singular developer, is that correct? Is there just one developer?
NH
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- promote economic development.
- The Texas Water Development Board.
- We have the Texas Water Development Board, we develop a comprehensive data-driven state water plan every
- The legislature and the Texas Water Development Board were tasked with developing our first state flood
- developed.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- and website development.
- and website development.
- When it's developed, so the application is not developed yet?
- So it was initially developed there.
- We've been very fortunate working with the Water Development Board over the years to assist them to develop
Summary:
The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions.
The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood.
Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary (2-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- current facilities uh in our regional current facilities uh in our regional facility<00:37:19.359
- to add on to each one of these Regional to add on to each one of these Regional facilities<00:37
- We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
- We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
- We've directed them to go back to the regional model first.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:00
Roll Call: 00:00:04
SB 02: 00:01:37
Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:09:49
SB 84: 00:22:19
SB 111: 00:30:35, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception.
Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty.
The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee Jun 12th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- future throughout the region.
- future throughout the region.
- We pulled this into a Stantec toll diversion model. the future throughout the region.
- So, um, data-backed information throughout the region.
- compared against the estimates that the progressive design builder is developing.