Volume 16, Issue 17 - Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Economic development has a new face along with visionary objectives

Economic development initiatives have always focused on boosting local economies, but now they are commonly designed to deliver revenue to budget-restrained cities and counties. Attracting tourists and visitors is still a key focus of economic development efforts, but doing that in ways that impact a city’s revenue is becoming the norm.

Before the pandemic, tourism revenue represented nearly 3% of America’s national gross domestic product (GDP). That share dropped to a historic low of about 1.7% in 2020 as the effects of the pandemic set in. However, tourism revenue has been recovering rapidly since 2021. The payback is in trillions of dollars now, and domestic tourism represents about half of that revenue.

Large cities such as Orlando, New York and Chicago are known to attract the most tourists each year, but some smaller cities now appear destined to make the list of fastest-growing tourist destinations. These include Boise, Idaho; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Providence, Rhode Island; and Bozeman, Montana. Many large public-private partnerships are being planned throughout the country, and a large majority of them will be designed to create revenue that will flow back to city and county coffers.

City officials in Rochester, Minnesota, have announced plans to build an expansive regional recreation and sports complex to attract tourism, boost the local economy and add revenue to the municipality’s coffers. The initiative will include the construction of a sports complex with 24 multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and potentially other sports. Operators of the complex will schedule tournaments and events that pull in teams, parents and visitors who visit the city over the weekends. Officials also want the complex to be a community resource, so it will not only be used to host formal tournaments but also be accessible for informal sports play and other types of gatherings.

The complex project is estimated to cost $65 million, but the cost could increase with the selection of a location. It is currently in the design phase, and construction is planned for the summer of 2025.

Click here for more.

Bridges, wildlife underpasses planned for Palm Springs, California

The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) will use $74.9 million to build bridges, wildlife under-crossings, a transportation pathway and solar-shaded area in Palm Springs, California.

The Addressing Climate Change, Emergencies and Sandstorms (ACCESS) Indian Canyon Drive project will remediate a stretch of flood-prone road that cuts off underserved neighborhoods from critical amenities. The project is currently in the design phase. Construction will begin in August 2025.

CVAG will build two bridge systems designed to withstand all types of weather without limiting local access to essential services. Plans include elevating the bridge over at-grade crossings along the route’s Whitewater River. The raised design increases the bridges’ resiliency and mobility, facilitating the flow of water and sand. Alleviating flow in concentrated areas will help decrease the amount of road closures.

In addition to improving the bridges’ ability to withstand inclement weather caused by climate change, Palm Springs will incorporate wildlife underpasses into the structure’s design. This will help preserve the local ecosystem, providing threatened and endangered species with safe paths around roadways. CVAG will also install 2 miles of sand fencing connected to Amtrak’s Palm Springs Station.

Plans include building a 2-mile active transportation pathway (ATP) to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and other forms of multimodal transport. The road will connect to the existing Coachella Valley (CV) Link, a 40-mile ATP connecting eight cities and the lands of two tribes. CVAG will install solar shades over the pathway to generate energy for the local community.

(Photo courtesy of CVAG.)

St. Louis projects will resolve wastewater and stormwater sewer issues 

Voters in St. Louis have approved two propositions that will allow the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) to issue $750 million in bonds for critical sewer system improvement projects and create a regional stormwater improvement program.

MSD oversees the fourth-largest sewer system in the country, spanning more than 9,600 miles. The sewer system is also one of the oldest and will require a massive effort to bring the system up to compliance with the Clean Water Act. To that end, MSD initiated Project Clear in 2012 - a $7.2 billion, 28-year plan to upgrade, repair and modernize the sewer system.

MSD Project Clear (MSDPC) is a long-term initiative to improve water quality and remediate wastewater concerns in St. Louis. Currently, MSD has completed more than 650 system improvements, eliminated 85% of overflows and reduced backups by 25%.

Proposition W will allow MSDPC to issue $750 million in bonds to support the next four years of work. The bonds will enable MSDPC to design, build, improve, renovate, repair, replace and equip new and existing wastewater infrastructure. This work is essential for MSDPC to complete $3.7 billion worth of wastewater system improvements over the next 15 years.

Proposition S will enable MSDPC to resolve $700 million of known stormwater issues in the St. Louis region. MSDPC will create the first regional stormwater improvement program to help resolve persistent problems such as flooding and erosion. The money will come from a property tax for residential customers and an impervious surface fee from non-residential customers.

(Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.)

U.S. plans 12 offshore wind auctions over five years

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will open 12 offshore wind energy lease sales through 2028, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced today at a forum in New Orleans. Four lease sales are planned in 2024, one each in 2025 and 2026, two more in 2027 and another four in 2028, Haaland said.

This year, leases are set to be available in the Central Atlantic coast, in the Gulf of Maine, the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast of Oregon. In 2025 and 2026, leases will be available in the Gulf of Mexico and the Central Atlantic. In 2027, more coastal waters will open in the Gulf of Mexico and near New York. Lastly, in 2028, leases will be available along the shores of California, Maine, Hawaii and U.S. island territories.

The previous offshore leasing schedule released in 2021 outlined ocean areas that would become available through 2025. So far, the U.S. has approved eight utility-scale offshore wind projects. Areas in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific have been opened up for leases. The nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind project began operating last month off the coast of New York.

Although the U.S. has made strides building its offshore wind capacity up from almost nothing, the nascent industry has faced technological and economic hurdles. While one New York project is now up and running, three other projects in the area were recently canceled. High interest rates and unreliable supply chains have contributed to a shaky start for offshore wind.

Even with delays in getting projects up and running, the U.S. Interior Department has approved more than 10 gigawatts of offshore wind — enough to power about 4 million homes once it is operational. The agency has previously set a goal for the U.S. to get 30 gigawatts of electricity from offshore wind by 2030.

(Photo courtesy of Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash.)

Lamar County residents to decide on $117 million school bond

Residents in Lamar County, Mississippi, will vote on a $117 million school bond to build, renovate and remodel school buildings and a physical education facility. Election day is May 14, 2024.

If approved, the bond would enable the Lamar County School District (LCSD) to build three schools. The first school, named Oak Grove Middle School, would be a two-story building that would house up to 1,400 students from sixth to eighth grade. The project would include a competition gym and a band hall.

The Oak Grove Middle School would replace the existing campus. The district would renovate the current Oak Grove Middle School to house 11 pre-kindergarten classes. Plans include converting the back of the campus into a space for Career and Technical Education classes. LCSD would also build a replacement Oak Grove Elementary office building and convert the current office back to classrooms.

The district would build the Purvis and Sumrall high schools to serve 900 students each, ranging from ninth to 12th grade. Plans include a pair of two-story buildings on district property. Each campus would include a competition gym, band hall, choral room, practice and physical education fields and JROTC spaces.

LCSD would build a physical education facility at Lumberton High School. Finally, the district would install necessary water, light, heating, air conditioning and sewerage facilities at all campuses.

Strategic Partnerships provides a bond report for all 50 states with project descriptions.

(Photo courtesy of Lamar County Schools.)

DOE roadmap points the way to faster clean-energy integration

The U.S. Department of Energy has released a guide to tackle the challenges of integrating clean energy resources into the nation’s electric grid.

The Transmission Interconnection Roadmap is a result of the Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) program launched by the DOE in June 2022. The roadmap aims to speed the process of connecting new clean energy resources such as wind and solar farms to the network of electricity transmission lines and substations that deliver power to homes and businesses.

Click here to learn more about the DOE’s clean-energy integration roadmap

(Photo courtesy of Lucas Faria.)

Virginia to use $34.7 million to increase road resiliency, monitor inclement weather

Virginia will receive $34.7 million in federal funding to increase roadway resiliency and implement a weather and traffic monitoring system to help communities respond to extreme weather events. All projects are currently in the design phase.

The city of Virginia Beach will receive $19 million to improve a 1.5-mile stretch of Pungo Ferry Road. The project will raise the low-lying roadway portion by 4 feet to address recurring flooding issues and make it passable during 100-year storms. The city will also build paved, graded shoulders and bike paths.

The road provides a critical east-west connection for several military installations, agricultural lands and wildlife refuges. Construction will begin in August 2027.

Stafford County will use $10.3 million to realign a portion of Brooke Road to mitigate persistent flooding. The Brooke Road Improvement Project will elevate a half-mile of the road’s “S” curve above the 100-year floodplain. Once completed, the realigned roadway will allow local communities easier access to critical amenities during heavy rainstorms. Construction will begin in 2026.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will receive $5.4 million to install a weather- and traffic-monitoring system to help improve emergency evacuations during natural disasters. The Modernizing Operations for Virginia’s Evacuation Resilience (MOVER) system includes flood sensors, stream gauges and traffic cameras across the Tidewater and Chesapeake regions. These technologies will provide real-time data to inform decisions during floods, heavy wind, fires and landslides.

The U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) administered the grants through the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program. USDOT will deliver nearly $830 million for 80 projects nationwide.

(Photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.)

Nevada tribe to build $30 million bike path to reconnect communities

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT) in Nevada will use $29.8 million to convert a railroad bed into a multimodal path to connect residential and recreational areas along the lake. The local Pyramid Lake communities are historically disconnected by more than 15 miles each.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently provided the grant through the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program to begin the PLPT Bike Path Phase 1 & 2 project. The grant will fund both design and construction for both of the project's phases. A construction date has not been set.

The NAE program is designed to improve walkability, safety and affordable transportation access in disenfranchised communities. The PLPT bike path project is one of 132 that will receive a portion of the $3.3 billion USDOT awarded for Fiscal Year 2023.

The tribe will transform an abandoned railroad bed into a multimodal facility to provide greater internal connectivity for tribal communities and to connect the communities to each other. The railroad has been decommissioned since the 1970s, and the tracks have been removed, leaving an unmaintained railroad bed that is overgrown and has missing bridge crossings. Currently, the bed makes it difficult for residents to reach recreational areas and presents safety issues.

Once built, the PLPT Bike Path will provide residents with safe, accessible travel between three tribal communities. The path will extend 12 miles, connecting and expanding the existing trail network to include all communities. The tribe will connect Sutcliffe to the Pyramid Lake Marina and beaches. In addition, it will expand the existing Tahoe-Pyramid Bike Path.

Once completed, the bike path will support the tribes’ economic development and provide visitors with an educational outlet to learn about the Pyramid Lake Tribe’s history and culture. In total, the PLPT Bike Path will link more than 100 miles of existing bike path infrastructure.

(Photo courtesy of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.)

DOI delivers $30 million to increase drought resilience in Upper Colorado River Basin

The Department of the Interior (DOI) will invest $29.7 million into the Upper Colorado River Basin – notably the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – to increase drought and climate change resiliency. This investment is the latest effort to address drought and water security issues in the region.

The grant will help basin authorities reactivate and install up to 60 streamgages in critical areas to monitor water levels and conditions. In addition, the funds will help expand eddy-covariance tower/ weather stations, allow state and local governments to accurately measure and manage water resources.

Authorities will also implement monitoring technology to track water diversion, soil moisture and snowpack in the basin. These solutions will provide greater insight into studying water balance and flow under different conditions and accurately forecast weather patterns.

The basin supports more than 40 million people, fuels hydropower resources across seven states and provides water for 5.5 million acres of agriculture. However, a 23-year drought has reduced the water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead to record low levels. Continued investments in the Upper Colorado River Basin have prevented the lake water levels from falling further, staving off potential impacts to water delivery and power production.

(Photo courtesy of Ken Lund.)

New York district invests $18 million to improve, renovate campuses

The McGraw Central School District (MCSD) in New York will spend $17.8 million on a capital improvement project (CIP) to improve school buildings, renovate facilities and enhance campus infrastructure.

Most of the improvements will go toward McGraw High School, starting with the gymnasium and auditorium. MCSD will renovate the school’s family and consumer science space, science lab and fitness center. The district will also build a broadcasting and recording lab and improve restrooms.

MCSD will prioritize making various site and HVAC improvements for student safety, well-being and comfort. The district will install a lobby concession stand and air conditioning in the nurse’s office. Plans include replacing the school’s flooring, sump pump, classroom ceiling tile, exterior door and ADA ramp handrails. In addition, the district will repoint the building’s brickwork to repair existing bricks and replace old mortar.

The district will build a multi-sport area and refinish the existing gymnasium floor at McGraw Elementary School. MCSD will make similar site and HVAC improvements like the high school and repair the elementary school’s terrazzo.

Plans include removing a skylight, installing window shades, replacing flooring and upgrading restrooms. In addition, the district will replace the building’s windows with added security film. MCSD will replace ceiling tiles and classroom millwork.

The district will invest in the transportation facility, starting by improving the building’s ventilation. Plans include improving the HVAC, replacing windows and replacing the bus lift.

The funds come from a recently voter-approved CIP referendum to address critical building and instructional needs throughout the school district.

(Photo courtesy of McGraw Central School District.)

Federal grants to help disadvantaged communities plan transportation projects

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $23.6 million in grants to help 112 communities through the second year of the Thriving Communities Program (TCP).

TCP provides technical assistance for underserved areas to utilize Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds to identify, develop and deliver transportation projects.

The grants will go to three national and six regional teams, called Thriving Communities Capacity Builders, who will then use the funds to assist local communities. TCP covers two years of free mentorship for disadvantaged areas to execute transportation projects that support local economic development, health, environment, mobility and access.

Click here to for more information on the Thriving Communities Program awards

(Photo courtesy of Michigan Environmental Council.)

Riding the ‘Samsung wave:’ Taylor, Texas, becoming a hub of opportunity

When Samsung announced a $17 billion investment to build semiconductor manufacturing in Central Texas, it was seen as a step forward in securing a U.S.-based supply chain for critical technology. For the city of Taylor, Texas, and more than 16,000 people who call the town home, Samsung’s announcement put the community on a course for rapid growth.

The project moved fast. City officials submitted an initial proposal and met with Samsung to promote city throughout 2021. The company selected Taylor and began investing the initial $17 billion later that year. In 2022, the company broke ground on the first of several fabrication plants, known as “fabs”, that will be used to manufacture semiconductors and microchips from Taylor, which is about 30 miles northeast of Austin.

Click here to learn more about the Samsung’s potential impact on opportunities in Taylor

(Photo courtesy of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation.)

Construction begins on $12 billion rail line between Las Vegas and L.A.

Construction has begun on a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line connecting Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.

Brightline West, whose sister company already operates a fast train between Miami and Orlando in Florida, plans to lay 218 miles of new track between Las Vegas and another new facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Click here for more information about the Las Vegas-L.A. high-speed line

(Photo: Rail stop in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Courtesy of Brightline West.)

Texas – Lesley Frohberg-Nyp will step in as interim director of development services for the city of Addison. Frohberg-Nyp has been working with the city as planning & development manager since 2022. Prior to that, she was the senior planner for Mesquite. Frohberg-Nyp will replace Ken Schmidt.

Illinois – Lisa Coleman, Ph.D., will be the next president of Adler University. Dr. Coleman currently serves as senior vice president for global inclusion and strategic innovation at New York University. She will begin her tenure Sept. 1.

Virginia – The King George County Board of Supervisors has appointed Matthew Smolnik as county administrator. Smolnik most recently served as director of economic development in New Kent. He will take over the role from Chris Miller.

Oregon – Nina Vetter has been selected as city manager for Newport. Vetter previously served as city manager for Gresham and as the Pueblo West Metropolitan district manager in Colorado. She has also worked as senior budget analyst and strategic plan and performance administrator for the city of Colorado Springs. She will replace Spencer Nebel in the role after he retires in summer 2024.

California - The Pacific Grove City Council has approved Matthew Mogensen as city manager. Mogensen is the current assistant city manager for Marina. He will take over his role May 6.

Illinois – The Bloomington City Council unanimously approved Jeffrey Jurgens as city manager. Jurgens is the current deputy city manager. He will take over responsibilities from Tim Gleason on May 6.

Colorado - The University of Colorado hired Justin Schwartz, Ph.D., as chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Schwartz currently serves as executive vice president and provost at Pennsylvania State University. Prior to Pennsylvania, he held leadership positions at Florida State University and North Carolina State University. He will officially start in July.

Washington, D.C. —The U.S. Agency for Global Media named Michael Abramowitz permanent director of Voice of America. Abramowitz is a former journalist, currently serving as president of the think tank Freedom House. He brings more than 39 years of journalism experience to the role.

Pennsylvania – The University of Pennsylvania has chosen Patricia Ruiz as executive director of student health and counseling. She previously served as director of the Student Health Center at Montclair State University. Ruiz is a certified advanced practice nurse with over 20 years of experience with student health at different universities.

New Jersey – Jennifer Keyes-Maloney is executive director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU). Keyes-Maloney joined the organization from the College of New Jersey, where she served as associate vice president for government and community relations. She began her role April 8.

California – Kevin Lothar Petrik will lead the Department of Technology’s geographic information systems efforts. He brings a decade of public, private and nonprofit sector experience with him.

North Carolina – The Pender County Board of County Commissioners selected Michael Silverman as county manager. Silverman will assume the position June 3. He is the current city manager for Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

Editors: Adam Rollins

Dave Doolittle

www.spartnerships.com

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state, and local government news and contracting opportunities.