Federal funds to be used to expand highway repairs, roadway safety efforts

Victor Mendez

More than $400 million in grant funds has been announced as headed to the states to expand highway repairs and roadway safety. The grants are being delivered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). When the grant funds were announced as available in June, every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., applied for the $417.3 million available. In fact, there were more than 1,800 applications totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times what was available. (To view the complete list of projects and the amount funded, click here and look under "Recent Reports.")

The projects funded are designed to create jobs, increase mobility and improve quality of life for Americans, and according to Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, "will help fill a critical need." He added that the list of critical infrastructure needs that need financial help in the states "grows almost daily."

California projects totaled more than $29.6 million. Some of the projects include $782,640 to leverage an $800,000 (or 38% of the required cost) private sector funding commitment, along with a $100,000 city in-kind contribution, to construct a 100-foot long pedestrian bridge over West Mission Road, $2.25 million to construct a 5-mile segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail commuter bike path linking the Town of Yountville and the City of Napa and more than $3.2 million to construct an additional lane and shoulder on I-680 between San Ramon and Danville.

North Carolina received $3.75 million for the top priority of the state Department of Transportation to improve the I-40/I-77 interchange near Statesville. The project will reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. The interchange that was built in the late 1960s was expected to handle only 5,000 vehicles each day. Currently, the ramps carry about 70,000 vehicles per day.

Michigan was awarded more than $9.1 million. Projects include $2 million to reconstruct I-196 in Allegan County and more than $1.6 million to construct 3.7 miles of trail on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

The discretionary grant programs was created to give FHWA the tools to support projects that maintain the nation's roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable. The funds were awarded through a competitive process.

Construction projects to be plentiful as a result of recent federal funding awards

Shaun Donovan

Construction projects will be plentiful across the country as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $28 million to 46 rural and tribal communities to address sub-standard housing conditions and concentrated areas of poverty. The grants come from HUD's Rural Innovation Fund.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the funding provides "flexible resources to address either housing or economic development needs, or both." These funds allow grants of up to $2 million to support innovative housing and economic development activities in 19 states. Applications were received from more than 300 entities in 48 of the states. The amounts they sought totaled more than $236 million, nearly 10 times the amount available. The funding can be used for construction, preparation of plans, land acquisition, demolition, home ownership counseling and financial assistance.

A number of projects will be funded from a variety of grant types. The San Carlos Housing Authority in Peridot, Arizona, will receive a Rural Innovation Fund Single Purpose grant of $300,000 to build and rehabilitate 40 single family homes and provide quality affordable rental housing. The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin will use their grant of $789,063 to create a visitors center to promote tribal businesses. Housing Development Alliance, Inc. in Hazard, Kentucky, will receive a Rural Innovation Fund Single Purpose grant of $300,000 to construct 25 homes that are at least 40 percent more energy efficient than a standard code home. Chippewa Cree Tribe in Box Elder, Montana, will receive a grant of $2,000,000 to construct a water storage and delivery system. To view the complete list of projects and the award amounts, click here and look under "Recent Reports."

News about public-private partnerships (P3s)

Alabama city announces public-private partnership to keep local coliseum open

John McMillan

A public-private partnership has been announced as a means of redeveloping the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. Recent legislation created the Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corp., which was seeking a public-private partnership to both redevelop the coliseum and renovate it. Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan, a member of the corporation, said it will cost between $8 million and $12 million to repair the building. This week, McMillan and Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange announced the state, city, Montgomery County and the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery are partnering to keep the facility open after state funding ends Oct. 1. McMillan said the agreement buys time for plans to be made to make needed repairs on the aging facility. McMillan said the building needs a new roof, plumbing and electrical repairs as well as possible replacement of the air conditioning system. McMillan is also expecting improvements to be made to livestock barns and horse arenas.

 

Firm forms partnership with University of Kansas to educate government leaders

Global engineering, construction and operations firm CH2M Hill is partnering with the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration to help educate government leaders. The firm will provide competitive grants for faculty research projects, an educational workshop, an internship for students in city and county leadership and webinars for students and alumni. Public-private partnerships, which are growing in popularity due to the sagging economy, will be addressed as a means of outsourcing local government services.

   

Washington event to promote public-private partnerships for nonprofits

Lafayette Barnes

Nonprofits, charities and trade associations will hear from the experts on how to use public-private partnerships to stretch their limited dollars. The 11th annual Public-Private Partnership Conference, sponsored by the D.C. Mayor's Office of Partnerships & Grant Services, the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Greater DC Cares. The nonprofits will have training sessions on managing finances, will learn how to form partnerships with other nonprofits to help them use limited resources to help meet a growing demand for services. Lafayette Barnes, director of the city's Office of Partnerships and Grant Services, said speakers for the event will discuss how to collaborate why collaboration is important and the tools needed to evaluate collaboration.

 

Public-private partnership to build new Oklahoma visitor center

Three entities are coming together in a public-private partnership to build a 5,000-square-foot visitor center at the Honey Springs battlefield in Oklahoma. The partnership for the $1.9 million project includes the Oklahoma Historical Society, McIntosh County and an area nonprofit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund $500,000 through a grant and $600,000 through a 40-year, 4 percent loan to be repaid by the Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield. The remainder will come from cash on hand or money to be raised by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Officials hope the visitor center will help the area benefit from tourism related to the Civil War battlefield and are hoping to attract up to 150,000 visitors per year, generating $9 million in tourism revenue. "The partnership recognizes that rural areas should increasingly capitalize on the tourism industry," said Ryan McMullen, state director of USDA Rural Development. Architects are currently designing the visitor center.

 

FEMA grant allows school in Arkansas to build safe room

A $1.04 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management will go toward building a safe room at Avondale Elementary School in West Memphis, Arkansas. The grant funds are expected to cover 75 percent of the $1.392 million project. The safe room is a freestanding facility that will be used to protect students, faculty and staff as well as residents of area neighborhoods during bad weather. The room will be able to serve as many as 1,000 people. Another $1 million grant was awarded to build a safe room at the high school in Vilona, where an April tornado left five dead.

Utah school district to try to sell property owners on $210 million bond

The Alpine School District in Utah will take a $210 million bond election to voters in November. A successful bond vote would lead to the building of four new elementary schools, a middle school in Eagle Mountain and a high school in Lehi. The schools are needed because an increase of 10,000 new students to the district is expected over the next five years. The bond issue also would pay for renovations at 13 other schools and would add space and address safety issues such as earthquake-proofing.

Illinois school preparing for major changes in campus looks

Meridian schools

Four separate buildings in the Meridian, Illinois, school district are about to be reduced to two. When the master plan is completed, all students will be taught in two buildings - a pre-K through fifth grade elementary school and a junior/senior high school featuring grades six through 12. Construction on the junior/senior high will begin in early 2012. The new facility (pictured) will be equipped with new technology in the classrooms and there will be updates to some athletic facilities. There will be more baseball fields and possibly a new soccer field. Also planned are an auditorium with stage, new kitchen facilities and a competition gym with additional bleachers. The total cost for both projects will be between $42 million and $48 million. The new facilities will also be more efficient with geothermal systems. The high school is expected to be completed in time for the 2014 school year.

 School construction projects sought through bond in Wyoming district

Officials of the Carbon County (Wyoming) District 1 school district have called for a $26.5 million bond issue to pay for school construction projects. Included are planned improvements at the new Rawlins High School that will not be paid by the state, including an aquatics complex and more space for after-school and vocational programs.

Technology, improvements to Michigan school district part of $22.8 million bond

Voters in the Ferndale, Michigan, School District will face a $22.825 million school bond issue in February of next year. The proceeds from a successful bond vote would provide new technology and a variety of improvements for all facilities in the district. The facilities include most of Ferndale, all of Pleasant Ridge, and parts of the Charter Township of Royal Oak and Oak Park.

Bids could go out this week for construction of new elementary school

Bob Douglas

Bids could go out as early as this week for phase one of a new $45 million Bancroft Elementary School in Andover, Massachusetts. Although the ground-breaking had been scheduled earlier, it has now been delayed until after the first of the year. Phase one of the project includes extending a road to provide secondary access to the school. Phase two is construction of the facility, which will begin this fall. The delay is due to permits taking longer than expected. Phase one is now likely to begin in October and phase two will have a January ground-breaking. Bob Douglas, Conservation Commission director, said the permits have now been approved. They were contingent on ensuring the project does not contribute to further flooding

  

UTEP requesting bids for testing system, door/window replacements

The University of Texas at El Paso is requesting bids for purchase of nanomechanical test system. Bid No. 21102441-WELXM. The university is also requesting bids for Hoover House exterior door and windows replacement. Bid No. 21102442-WEYLC.

New Mexico school, college has bid opportunities available

Western New Mexico University in Silver City is requesting bids for public relations services. Bid No. 01-11/12. The Las Cruces Public School District is requesting bids for Professional Development Center renovation. 

Want to know who your competition is? Who was awarded the contract on a particular project? Below are listed some recent winners of major government contracts:  

• Federal Express of the District of Columbia; Polar Air Cargo of Purchase, N.Y.; and United Parcel Service, Louisville, Ky., won a contract for $853.3 million from the U.S. Transportation Command for international commercial express package service;
• Science Applications International Corporation was awarded a prime contract by Marine Corps System Command's (MCSC) Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group (PG10) to provide systems integration services in support of the Total Force Structure Management System (TFSMS). The single-award, follow-on contract has a four-year base period of performance and a contract value of $30 million;
• Echo Pacific Construction has been selected to build the Vista Del Mar Elementary School by the San Ysidro (California) School District and construction will be delivered through a lease-lease back contract;
• CACI Technologies of Chantilly won a $24.2 million contract from the Navy for systems engineering services in support of integrated ship self defense; 
• ICSolutions won a five-year contractto provide pay-phone services at the Bexar County (Texas) county jail, generating estimated annual income to the county of $2.5 million.
• Booz Allen Hamilton of Herndon won a $10 million contract from the Air Force for report, documents and plans to address strategic, planning and operational requirements;
• International Relief and Development of Arlington won a $60 million contract from the Agency for International Development for professional, administrative and management support services.

VA making first large-scale purchase of tablet computers

Roger Baker

SPI, with 15+ years of experience in partnering public and private sector partners, has become the premier P3 partner connection in the United States. 

SPI is currently working throughout the country on P3 initiatives and is available for conversations with any public entity interested in asking questions, discussing national trends or obtaining advice about how to reach out to private sector firms.

Interested parties click here or call Reagan Weil at 512-531-3900 to schedule a conversation.

Ferguson

Douglas

Cawby

Lanuel J. Ferguson, a former major in the New Jersey State Police who had been appointed by Mayor Dana L. Redd as Camden (New Jersey) Police Director, has resigned his post only a month after his appointment. Peter Douglas, longest-serving executive director of the California Coastal Commission after having served 26 years since his appointment in 1985, has announced he will retire from his position in November due to health reasons. Don Cawby, former deputy director of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and former city manager of Osage City and Parsons, Kansas, has been named Osawatomie's (Kansas) newest city manager. Former Aozora Bank chief executive officer and former vice chair and chief risk officer of BankAmerica Corp. Michael Rossi has been appointed top jobs adviser to California Gov. Jerry Brown. Louis Barrow, consultant to Dallas' Behavioral Measures and Forensics Services Southwest Inc. has announced he is withdrawing from the list of candidates for Beaumont (Texas) City Police Chief after taking a full-time position with the Dallas firm. Bob Jones, who has served the last 25 years as chief of the Merkel (Texas) Police Department, has announced his retirement, ending a law enforcement career of four decades. Larry W. Davis, Sr., the highest-ranking uniformed officer in New York's Correction Department, has resigned his post,

Davis

Sharp

Mackiel

with Michael Hourihane, deputy chief and a 30-year veteran of the department, named as the new chief. John Sharp, former member of the Texas Legislature and former Texas State Comptroller, has been named the lone finalist for the position of chancellor of the 11-member Texas A&M University System, which includes Sharp's alma mater, Texas A&M University. John Mackiel, superintendent of the Omaha Public Schools, Nebraska's largest school district, has announced that he will retire next year from the position he has held since 1997. Kim Carpenter, who has served as the interim chief executive officer of San Juan County (New Mexico) for two months following the retirement of Keith Johns, has been named the county's new CEO. Sixteen-year law enforcement veteran Jason Goodrich, the current captain for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he supervises 30 police and 20 community service officers, has been named chief of the Lamar University (Texas) Police Department, effective Sept. 13. James Williams, who has served as head of upstate New York's largest public school system for the last six years, has submitted his resignation, effective Sept. 15. The Hot Springs, North Dakota, City Council has hired Harley Lux, business manger at Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home, as its new finance officer to replace Cheryl Wait, who has worked for the city for 35 years.Lisa Grillo, a former special education teacher and current principal in the Washington, D.C., Public Schools,

Grillo

Strickland

Litke

has been hired to serve as the new assistant superintendent of the Wake County (North Carolina) schools. Carter H. Strickland, Jr., former acting director of the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic and who has served in Michael Bloomberg's administration in New York since 2007, has been chosen commissioner of the city's Department of Environmental Protection. Officials of San Juan College in New Mexico have chosen Russell Litke, controller of the college since May of last year, as the college's new vice president of administrative services, which oversees the college's budget and financial operations. Oklahoma City has named Laura Johnson, former director of the city's Finance Department, and Dennis Clowers, the city engineer and director of the Public Works Department, as new assistant city managers, while Eric Wenger was named to fill Clowers' old post. The City of Gaithersburg (Maryland) has chosen Tom Lonergan, current executive director of the Montclair Center Business Improvement District in New Jersey, as the city's new economic development director. Northeast Community College (Nebraska) President Bill Path, who served as vice president of student services at NECC from 1996 to 2000, left for a year and then returned as president, has been selected to serve as the next president of the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.