MOUNT VERNON, IA - The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) - an influential organization within the construction industry that serves as an informational and networking tool for its members and carries out a multitude of educational and promotional efforts for the advancement of concrete foundation technology - has announced the call for entries for the "2009 Projects of the Year" Award, formerly known as the "Basement of the Year".

According to Ed Sauter, executive director of CFA, the Basement of the Year competition enables foundation contractors to display the wide range of projects that are being completed today. The technological advancements that have been made in the poured wall industry allow contractors to complete complex projects more efficiently, which helps ensure homeowners' dreams are realized, says Sauter.

"Each year the projects submitted to this competition get more complicated and demonstrate the diversity afforded through poured wall foundations," says Sauter. "With the increased focus we have created on technical and business competence, exposing the industry to the craftsmanship that exists is of utmost value."

Cases in point are the winning structures from last year's competition that ranged from a 4,300 sq.ft. basement with radius walls and over 150 yards of concrete to a basement of 25,000 sq.ft. Also seen were projects incorporating free-spanning concrete stairs and a commercial rock quarry underground storage building. These projects were voted most complex, most challenging and representative of the level of craftsmanship delivered throughout the CFA network by the very contractors that face projects like these every week.

Is your business concrete foundations or above-grade concrete structures with removable concrete forms? If so, you should take advantage of this unique industry opportunity to display your work to the industry. To enter a project in this year's competition, you must be a CFA Contractor member. Non-members do not qualify for the awards program. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 28, 2008 and there remains no charge for each submittal.