The knowledge you need

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) became law on July 11, 2026, after clearing Congress with rare bipartisan support. The new law reshapes who can buy homes, how fast builders can break ground, and where housing money flows next. Its provisions are aimed mostly at state and local governments, but the effects will soon reach businesses tied to construction, investment, and federal housing finance. Leaders in these industries will want to understand the timeline ahead and how it may influence future projects and investment decisions.

Federal grants are divided into different budget categories, and each one comes with its own compliance requirements. Participant support costs are one of those categories. The Uniform Guidance includes rules about which costs qualify, what activities they can support, and who can be treated as a participant (2 CFR 200.456). Not every federal award includes participant support costs, but when they do, auditors usually spend time reviewing them during a Single Audit. Organizations that understand the requirements before the audit are generally in a much better position to show that the funds were used appropriately.

Many nonprofits have enough funding to support the mission. The challenge is that funding doesn’t always arrive when it’s needed, and it isn’t always ready to pay day-to-day operating expenses. This can create unexpected and unwanted complications and underscores the importance of proper cash flow management. A complete assessment of when expenses need to be paid along with expected revenue can set management up to better understand when cash needs to be available to meet obligations. Managing these timing differences will help the organization serve its community without interruption.

Construction job costing helps contractors understand how each project is performing financially from start to finish. That information has become increasingly important as rising material costs, labor shortages, and other project challenges continue to pressure construction margins. In addition to helping management identify problems before they become more expensive, job costing can improve future estimates and reveal which types of projects are the best fit for the business

Construction activity is strong, but the market is facing ongoing challenges. Rising material costs and global uncertainty are making it more difficult to predict project timing and margins. While contractors can't control market conditions, they can decide how much risk to accept before work begins. One of the earliest business decisions on any project is the construction contract. More than a legal agreement, the contract determines how financial risk and uncertainty will be shared between the owner and contractor. Understanding the different contract types can help construction leaders choose an approach that best fits each project and protects profitability.

Businesses with research and development (R&D) activities may have new tax planning opportunities to consider. Recent tax law changes have restored immediate expensing for many domestic R&D costs, but that is only part of the story. Depending on the business, there may be multiple ways to approach R&D tax benefits, and the decisions made today could affect tax savings and cash flow for years to come. Since the credit can lead to significant savings for those with eligible R&D activities, now is the time to revisit this incentive.

Construction bonds are a familiar part of life for most contractors, especially on public work. Federal contracts are subject to bonding requirements under the Miller Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and most state and local governments have followed suit with additional rules. Private owners may also require bonds, particularly when a project is large enough or complex enough that the risk warrants it. For contractors, getting bonded opens doors. For owners, it provides a level of protection they would not otherwise have. Understanding what the different bonds actually do can help construction companies prepare and get ahead of any requirements.

Manufacturing leaders are under pressure to improve throughput, manage labor shortages, reduce downtime, and remain competitive in a changing operating environment. As automation conversations accelerate across the industry, many companies are taking a closer look at how automation may affect operations before committing capital to a major investment. That evaluation process often begins with an automation ROI analysis.

In February, the Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs enacted in early 2025 could not remain in effect. That ruling did not automatically trigger refunds. However, the Court of International Trade (CIT) later ordered that eligible importers receive refunds of those duties plus interest, setting off one of the largest customs refund efforts in recent history. 

A nonprofit budget is the organization’s financial plan for the year. It lays out expected revenue, planned expenses and shows how money will be used across programs, fundraising, and administration. This helps nonprofit leadership see whether plans are financially realistic and identify areas where additional fundraising may be needed. This information can also help to uncover where financial gaps may exist. Finally, it also helps board members understand the overall financial health of the organization before making any governance decisions.