It's summer, which means construction season in full swing in the state of Utah. With too many construction projects to count, things are good in the Beehive State.

Utah has the best state economy in the country. According to a report published Monday by WalletHub, a national financial research and consulting organization, Utah earned the top overall score on state economies, as well as second place for "economic activity" and "economic health," and fourth place for "innovation potential."

962 square feet. That was the median size of a home in the United States in 1975. Fast forward four decades and that number has ballooned by 61% to 2,467 square feet. That's 11% larger than even a decade ago.

Spring is well underway here in Utah, and with that comes rain, flowers, and construction zones. Last month UDOT released its top 10 road construction projects for the Beehive State. According to a report by KSL, over 150 projects are set to begin statewide with the long-term goal of improving mobility now and in the future.

2016 is nearly half-way over. Have you given any thought to where you'd like to take your career in the second half of this year? While school children turn their thoughts to carefree summer days, here are some things for you to think about as the calendar turns to June.

With home automation systems gaining popularity, they can be a wonderful upgrade contractors can offer to customers. Being able to control everything from lights to heating to appliances all from a wireless device has a broad appeal for many homeowners. However, if you decide to offer these systems to clients, be aware that there are some risks

Nationwide housing starts rose 6.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million in April, according to newly released data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Commerce Department. The number of permits issued was also up by 3.6%.

Salt Lake International Airport is getting a new concourse. Another one. Last week, officials announced they would be adding to the $1.8 billion terminal redevelopment project by building an additional concourse. That brings the total cost of the expansion project to $2.6 billion. This will add thirty more gates to the airport, with room to grow in the future. “This addition is essential in building a state-of-the-art facility to help attract more business and tourism dollars, and completely in line with my plan for robust economic development. We are on track to making the entire experience more efficient and pleasant for everyone,” Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said in a statement. The airport authority estimates that 22 million passengers pass through Salt Lake International annually - and the airport hasn't had a major upgrade since the 1980s. The new concourse will be called the North Concourse, and will replace the current B, C, and D gates at the airport. It will be connected to the South Concourse via a passenger tunnel. The entire project should be completed by 2020.

Many people are drawn to Utah for all of the outdoor activities we have to offer. Within short driving distance, most Utah residents have access to camping, boating, skiing, and hiking. It's no secret: Utahns love nature. And that's a growing trend developers all around the country are discovering. A recent NAHB survey shows that among the top five community characteristics prospective buyers seek, three involve nature; buyers want to be close to parks, walking trails and lakes. Pools and tennis courts are great, but buyers also want to be close to nature -- and they'll pay a premium to have it located right outside their door. A recent article in the spring issue of Best in American Living cites the many benefits of designing green spaces into developments, not the least of which is building a sense of community within a neighborhood. Walking trails that meander around a lake, trail systems that link residents and amenities, or a greenbelt wrapping the edge of a neighborhood all help people feel connected to nature whenever they like. Especially in areas all along the Wasatch Front where urban apartments are going up in record numbers, a community green space or garden area can be a big draw for working professionals. “Striking the right balance between the built environment and open space has benefits, which are demonstrated in many vibrant neighborhoods, old and new,” says Jim Constantine, author of the original aricle. “Where nature meets neighborhood, there are opportunities for varying design approaches that range from bringing the ‘wild’ into the community, to remaking the natural edge to look as picturesque as a romantic landscape painting.” The sense of community, belonging, and safety that parks and other natural amenities have to offer can greatly enhance the livability for homeowners within the neighborhood.

Steady job growth, affordable home prices, attractive mortgage interest rates, and pent-up demand will help the housing market continue on a gradual upward trajectory in the year ahead, according to economists who participated in last week’s NAHB Spring Construction Forecast Webinar. “Builders remain cautiously optimistic about market conditions,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “2016 should be the first year since the Great Recession in which the growth rate for single-family production exceeds that of multifamily. And we see single-family growth accelerating in 2017 as the supply chain mends and we can expand production.” Contributing to the growth was steady job progress, which bolstered consumer confidence and increased housing demand. Looking at the forecast, single-family production is expected to post a 14% gain in 2016 to 812,000 units and rise an additional 19% to 964,000 units in 2017. That's especially good news for Utah contractors, as the Beehive state is among the top tier of states leading the nationwide growth. According to the National Home Builders Association, "the states with the strongest housing market recoveries are also among the leaders in payroll employment gains since the end of the recession. The strongest housing recoveries to date are in Montana, North Dakota and Utah, all with robust energy sectors that helped push them near or beyond full recovery in housing production." Utah isn't necessarily an energy state, but tech companies are heavily drawn to this area. And with them come employees who need housing.