Report on the Cessation of Operations for Quality Built LLC and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the sudden closure of Quality Built LLC and its subsidiary, SkyeTec, effective July 3, 2025. The cessation of these entities, which provided critical third-party inspection and testing services for the construction industry, presents significant setbacks to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. The primary impacts relate to the loss of decent work (SDG 8), the disruption of services essential for good health and well-being (SDG 3), and the removal of a key contributor to sustainable cities, clean energy, and resilient infrastructure (SDG 7, SDG 9, and SDG 11).

2.0 Operational Closure and Impact on Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

Quality Built LLC, a Fort Lauderdale-based company owned by private equity firm Gallant Capital since 2019, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice on July 7, 2025, confirming the termination of its entire workforce.

• Effective Date of Closure: July 3, 2025.
• Stated Reason: “Sudden and unexpected business developments that made it impossible for the Company to remain viable.”
• Direct Employment Impact: The closure resulted in a direct contradiction to the principles of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through the termination of 70 employees.
  1. 50 employees based in Fort Lauderdale.
  2. 20 employees at the Jacksonville-based subsidiary, SkyeTec.

The sudden nature of the liquidation undermines economic stability and secure employment for the affected individuals and their communities, representing a negative outcome for local economic resilience.

3.0 Disruption to Sustainable Infrastructure and Community Services

The loss of SkyeTec, acquired by Quality Built in 2021, removes a vital service provider whose functions were directly aligned with achieving key sustainability targets in the built environment.

3.1 Impact on Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

SkyeTec’s origins as a mold assessment and indoor air quality company provided services crucial for ensuring healthy indoor environments, a core component of SDG 3.

• The cessation of these inspection services creates a void in safeguarding residential and commercial buildings from environmental health hazards.

3.2 Impact on Sustainable Cities, Energy, and Infrastructure (SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 11)

SkyeTec’s expanded services were integral to building sustainable, resilient, and efficient infrastructure, directly supporting multiple SDGs.

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By providing energy rating services, SkyeTec promoted energy efficiency in new construction, contributing to reduced energy consumption.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Its third-party inspections ensured quality, safety, and resilience in construction projects, a foundational element for sustainable industrialization and infrastructure.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The company’s comprehensive building inspections supported the development of safe, resilient, and sustainable housing and commercial spaces.

The termination of these services represents a significant loss for the regional construction industry’s capacity to meet sustainability and safety standards, potentially hindering progress toward creating more sustainable communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. The core subject is the closure of a company (Quality Built LLC and its subsidiary SkyeTec) and the subsequent termination of all its employees. This event directly counters the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The article explicitly states that 70 employees lost their jobs, which is a direct setback to local economic stability and employment.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article mentions that SkyeTec provided services crucial for sustainable urban development, including “third-party inspections for residential and commercial construction projects,” “energy ratings,” and “mold assessment and indoor air quality.” The loss of a company providing these services impacts the capacity of the community to ensure safe, resilient, and sustainable buildings, which is a key component of SDG 11.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…” The article directly addresses a situation contrary to this target by reporting that Quality Built “terminated all employees,” resulting in “70 workers losing their jobs.” This represents a direct loss of productive employment for these individuals.
  • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…” The closure of the company and the termination of jobs is the opposite of decent job creation and supporting productive activities. The article highlights a business failure (“impossible for the Company to remain viable”), which detracts from this target.

• Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.3: “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.” SkyeTec’s services, such as “third-party consultation, energy ratings and building inspections,” are integral to the capacity for sustainable settlement management. The company’s closure signifies a reduction in this local capacity.
  • Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The article notes that SkyeTec was founded as a “mold assessment and indoor air quality company.” The cessation of these services means one less entity is available to help manage and improve indoor air quality, which is a component of a city’s overall environmental impact.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 8 Targets:

  • Indicator for Target 8.5: The article provides a direct, quantifiable measure of job loss. An implied indicator is the number of jobs terminated due to business closure. The article specifies this number: “50 workers losing their jobs in Fort Lauderdale, in addition to the 20 in Jacksonville,” for a total of 70. This is a direct measure of negative progress against the goal of full employment.

• For SDG 11 Targets:

  • Indicator for Target 11.3: The article implies an indicator related to institutional capacity. The indicator could be the availability of specialized services for sustainable construction. The article demonstrates a negative change in this indicator by stating that a company providing “third-party inspections for residential and commercial construction projects” has “ceased all operations.”
  • Indicator for Target 11.6: An implied indicator is the number of entities providing environmental quality assessment services. The article notes the closure of SkyeTec, which “expanded its services to include third-party consultation, energy ratings and building inspections” after being founded as a “mold assessment and indoor air quality company,” thus reducing the number of such providers in the market.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jaxdailyrecord.com