Tornado recovery helps construction industry - KOAM TV 7

Victims of the tornado are still rebuilding their homes and their lives and that has created a boost to a number of businesses.

The circumstances of why they're getting the new businesses doesn't make them happy but it is a reality.

For Joplin Rental Center, equipment like skid steers are still a hot commodity.  They purchased four or five of these excavating machinery to meet demand.

The window business was overwhelming for Joplin Venetian Blind right after the tornado but now has crews working at a more steady pace.

Home builder James Remillard says jobs are stacking up now that moratoriums are over and insurance has been settled.

For at least two of these companies the tornado related business led to growth.

"It created two more new jobs here, hopefully there'll be more coming down the road," says Curtis Shepherd, the paint manager for Joplin Rental Center.

"We bought a new piece of equipment, one, and we - I - hired a couple extra people because of it, but I have a small crew and I don't want to get much bigger than I am," says James Remillard.

Remillard says his extra crew knows it could be temporary.  He says  there's always a chance for a slowdown in the work.  In construction that means those extra jobs could go away.

The owner of Joplin Venetian Blind says he didn't add workers because there's been no time to give proper training and he's focusing on quality first.  He's taken on 150 projects but says he's turned away up to 500 customers.

For now all say business is good.