Portland, Maine-based BlueTarp Financial named Will Porter as its new chief financial officer.

Porter brings more than 18 years of experience working with both public and private companies. Most recently, he served as the CFO at Signiant, a global software provider focusing on the transferring of digital files. Previously, Porter was the VP finance at Phase Forward, a data management solutions provider. 

Decisive action by employers in 2012 -- in particular, moving more employees into consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) and beefing up health management programs -- was rewarded with the lowest average annual cost increase since 1997, according to HR consultancy Mercer's National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released in November 2012. The survey is conducted annually among U.S.

Disputes over dumping -- selling products in the U.S. market at prices below the cost of production or for less than what the products are sold in the home market -- are a major thorn in the side of companies wanting to do business internationally. The United States enacted the antidumping law to protect U.S. manufacturing companies from “unfair” imports, but the real impact of the law is to bankrupt legitimate U.S. companies and destroy U.S. jobs.

Northern Tool + Equipment, a leading supplier of professional tools and industrial equipment, has entered into an agreement with Blue Tarp Financial that will provide commercial credit to the retailer’s contractor customers. BlueTarp will develop and implement a customized line of credit for Northern Tool under the private label NTE Net 30.

The Hillman Companies and its subsidiary, the Hillman Group, have announced that they have hired two executives to fill newly created positions at Hillman.

A decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C.) Circuit Court has delayed a new rule -- set to take effect April 30 -- that required workplaces to post right-to-organize notices.

To be in compliance with the new rule, private employers will have to post an 11-by-17-in. notice regarding employee rights to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act. The requirement was set by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Spending on private residential construction barely budged in February 2012 compared to the previous month, rising 0.8% to an annual rate of $527.3 billion, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Dept. Nonresidential construction such as hotels, offices, schools and healthcare facilities rose 1.6% to $280.8 billion in February.

Spending on single-family homes in February 2012 declined 1.5% compared to January, but multifamily home construction rose 2.0%.

Waypoint Real Estate Group, one of the nation's leading acquirers of distressed, single-family properties, and GI Partners, a mid-market private equity firm, have announced a partnership where they will acquire and then rent out more than $250 million in single-family homes. Ultimately, GI hopes to invest more than $1 billion in distressed and foreclosed homes over the next two years, with Waypoint managing the acquisitions and rental conversions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday morning reported the lowest national unemployment rate since March 2009. 

The November rate of 8.6% is down 0.4 percentage points from 9.0% in October. A year ago, the unemployment rate stood at 9.8%, according to the bureau.

The employment situation report showed that the private sector added 140,000 jobs, as employment rose in a number of service-providing industries. Government employment continued to trend down.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized five organizations and one individual as the 2011 WaterSense Partners of the Year. The "Retailer Partner" is The Home Depot, and the "Manufacturer Partner" is Delta Faucet Co.