After a year or more of struggling to find work, contractors are ready to dig in their shovels and let the dirt fly as construction projects large and small break ground throughout the Tri-Counties.

Several notable projects are in the construction pipeline, and builders I spoke with said they’re finally starting to see new business again.

“We had a very good, brisk beginning of 2010 with multiple contracts and projects signed,” said Norm Nebroski, vice president of business development for Santa Barbara-based Frank Schipper Construction Co. Contracts in the $5 million to $10 million range are making a particular comeback, he said.

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