Cities are aggressively investing in LED lighting. They can immediately reap significant savings, use less energy, provide better lighting and be applauded for the environmental benefits.

It's hard for public officials not to jump on this bandwagon.

Described as technology for "smart cities of the future," light-emitting diodes, generally referred to as LEDs, are 50 percent more energy efficient and they last considerably longer. 

In fact, LED bulbs can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years - three times longer than the old fashioned bulbs that appear in most streetlights.

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To create large-scale improvement projects for many contractors nationwide

Large-scale improvements such as roof replacements, energy-efficiency upgrades and replacement of plumbing and electrical systems will be made to improve and preserve public housing throughout the country thanks to the award of nearly $1.8 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Some 3,100 public housing authorities nationwide will benefit from the funding.

The largest share of the award goes to the state of New York, where more than 80 public housing authorities will share $347.4 million in funding. All 50 of the states as well as the District of Columbia and U.S. territories received funding. View the funding by housing authority and state.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan (pictured) called the funding "critically important" to public housing agencies seeking to provide the best possible housing for their residents. Although this recent funding amount is not enough to meet a growing backlog of capital needs, Donovan pledged that "HUD will be working closely with the Congress to expand efforts to generate approximately $6 billion in private investment for the recapitalization of public housing."

The other states receiving the largest piece of the funding pie include Illinois with $118.5 million, Pennsylvania with $117.4 million, Texas receiving $70.9 million, followed by California with $69.7 million and Ohio with $75.2 million.

This round of funding comes from HUD's Capital Fund Program that provides annual funding for construction, repair, renovation or modernization of public housing through 3,100 public housing authorities. A HUD study in 2011 revealed that the nation's 1.1 million public housing units are facing an estimated $25.6 billion in large-scale repairs. These costs go beyond routine maintenance. The 2011 Rental Assistance Demonstration strategy offers long-term solutions to preserve and enhance the nation's affordable housing inventory, including leveraging public and private funding to make much-needed improvements.

HUD has made awards to 60,000 public and assisted housing units in more than 340 different projects across the country. Through these awards, housing authorities have proposed to generate approximately $3 billion in capital repairs by leveraging private debt and equity, which will preserve or replace distressed units.

Governor's proposal addresses higher education upgrades, arts funding

Cleveland State University in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and the Cuyahoga Community College could receive $65 million in funding for capital improvement projects from Gov. John Kasich's capital improvement plan that would cover the next two years. Numerous arts-related projects in the Cleveland area would also benefit. A total of $135 million for capital improvement projects is included in the plan. View a list of all of the planned allocations here. 

Included in the Cuyahoga Community College projects are $7 million for structural concrete repairs and $2.9 million for roof repair and replacements. Among the Cleveland State University projects funded are $9 million for Engaged Learning Laboratories and $4 million for main classroom renovations. Elsewhere in the state, another $65 million is proposed for higher education spending, with the largest amounts set aside for work at Kent State University, Lakeland Community College, Lorain Community College and the University of Akron.

In addition to the higher education funding, several cultural asset projects in the Greater Cleveland area would be funded. Among them are $2.5 million for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, $2 million for the Cleveland Museum of Art and $1.1 million for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "These projects will help us fulfill our larger vision of building a sustainable future for Cleveland and will build on the significant investment that is taking place in Cleveland," said Mayor Frank Jackson (pictured). "The state funds will help us continue the positive momentum we have as a region."

Other work that would be funded throughout the state includes at marinas, parks and walkways. The plan funds much-needed repairs and maintenance. 

Lexington officials want tax increase to fund Rupp Arena upgrades

Lexington, Kentucky, officials are trying to convince the state legislature to allow the city to increase its local hotel tax. The proceeds from the increase would go toward funding updates to Rupp Arena, home of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team. The House recently approved the proposal. The Senate has taken a less than open-armed approach to the $310 million project, which would also build a new convention center near Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. Senators are looking for more details before throwing their support behind the project. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray (pictured) cited how the project would help job activity that would benefit the entire state. "Anyone who needs evidence that this plan will work should look north to Columbus, Ohio," Gray said, where that city created 10,000 jobs around its new Nationwide Arena. "This is one of Kentucky's best economic development projects and we are eager to get started." Lexington officials are seeking an increase in the hotel tax from 6 to 8.5 percent. That increase would generate an additional $3.5 million in tax revenue each year. The House has already added a $65 million bond for Rupp Arena and the convention center in its $20.3 billion biennial budget. The Senate has yet to roll out its version of the budget.

Savannah Harbor deepening project to get $35 million in funding

The Savannah Harbor in Georgia will be deepened from 42 to 47 feet when an additional $35 million in funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is approved by Gov. Nathan Deal (pictured). "Lawmakers across Georgia recognize that improving the Savannah Harbor is critically important to the continued economic health of this state and region," Deal said. The dredging is necessary to accommodate the increased number of large vessels that will be traveling down the Panama Canal following the completion of its expansion next year. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that the deepening project will help reduce shipping costs for private companies by $174 million per year as vessels carrying more cargo at a lower rate enter the port. Approved by the environmental protection agency, fish and wildlife service and the national marine fisheries service, the project is expected to cost a total of $652 million. In addition to deepening the channel, the harbor expansion will also include general navigation improvements, such as wider channel turns and a larger turning basin.

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Massachusetts considers public-private partnership for transportation

In Massachusetts, where like other areas of the country, revenues are tight, officials are considering the use of public-private partnerships as a mean of shoring up the state's transportation system. The capacity on Route 3 is in desperate need of expansion and public-private partnerships could provide an answer.

Among the considerations are the addition of new toll lanes along the highway, leasing state land along highways and building a third bridge over the Cape Cod Canal. The state would lease land to a private partner, who would be responsible for designing and building the roadway. The private partner would then collect tolls and recoup its costs of building and maintaining the road. Officials estimate the cost of adding a lane in each direction from Braintree to the Route 53 exit to be $400 million. It would require the modification of 15 bridges.

Officials are reportedly working on a bidding process for selection of a partner. Sen. Robert Hedlund (pictured) called the proposal "interesting." And, at no cost to the taxpayer, Hedlund added, "It's a way to add some capacity that otherwise won't be built in our lifetime." 

 Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.com and let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature Mitchell Silver. 

Keone Kali (top left), Deputy CIO of Operations in the Office of Information Management and Technology, was recently confirmed by the Hawaii Senate as the state's new CIO, to replace Sonny Bhagowalia, who was promoted to chief adviser for technology and cybersecurity. Sheri Noren Everts (top center), provost at Illinois State University, will take over the post of chancellor of Appalachian State University on July 1, succeeding Kenneth Peacock, who is stepping down after nine years. John Overton (top right), finance director for the city of Mount Airy for more than two decades, has been chosen as director of financial and information services for the city of Lexington, North Carolina, replacing Terra Greene, who was name assistant city manager. Adrianne Salas, who has been with the Alamogordo Public Schools district for 23 years, as executive director of schools for the last three and recently appointed assistant superintendent, will now hold the title of district superintendent. Bob Jensen, who began working for the Wyoming Business Council 10 years ago and was named chief executive officer in 2007, has announced he is stepping down. Beth Bresnahan, who previously served as the Massachusetts State Lottery's assistant executive director and marketing and communications director, has been named head of the lottery, replacing Paul Sternburg, who resigned to work as a consultant in the lottery field. Dr. Corey Lunn (bottom right), who has served seven years as a school superintendent, the last three years with the Stillwater (Minnesota) Area Schools, has been named as the new superintendent of the Johnston Community School District. Randy Baldemor (bottom center), former deputy director of the Hawaii Department of Taxation with 12 years of diverse business experience, has been named the state's Deputy Chief Information Officer. Heather Beck (bottom left), chief academic officer of Jeffco Public Schools in Jefferson County, Colorado, will be the next superintendent of the Lake Oswego (Oregon) School District, replacing Superintendent Bill Korach, who is retiring in June. Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has been named by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to an unpaid position on the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, which oversees hunting, freshwater fishing, boating and other activities. The city of Miami's chief financial officer, Daniel Alfonso, has been named the new city manager for the city, the fifth city manager since Mayor Tomas Regalado took office in 2009. James Linder, a former faculty member at the University of Nebraska and former senior associate advising the university president on innovation and economic competiveness and current chief medical officer at Roche Diagnostics Hematology of Boston, has been named interim president of the university, replacing outgoing President J.B. Milliken, who has been named chancellor of City University of New York.