Jun 17th 2024 | Posted in Infrastructure, Opportunities, Water Projects by Mary Scott Nabers
ivan bandura Ac97OqAWDvg unsplash (2)
ivan bandura Ac97OqAWDvg unsplash (2)

The city of Bryan has selected a partner to design the Thompson’s Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (TCWWTP) expansion project. The designer will receive $3.3 million to manage the project, conduct preliminary investigations, oversee the bid phase and provide architectural services. Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2025. No cost estimate has been released. The […]

Read More
May 3rd 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
8th avenue bridge
The "Arc of Justice" Bridge. Photo courtesy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Approximately $14.4 billion is spent each year to repair, rehabilitate or replace bridges in America. However, that annual amount has increased and will continue to increase because the backlog of critically needed bridge repairs is estimated to be $125 billion. Of about 50,000 bridges with very significant issues awaiting attention, an estimated 40% can be […]

Read More
May 1st 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
o'hare internation airport terminal
Photo courtesy of O'Hare 21.

April has been a big month for airport infrastructure funding. Two separate announcements of new funding awards were made. The first announcement, on April 5, was for $148 million. On April 25, the second announcement allocated another $76 million to support airport projects. In April alone, $224 million was made available for initiatives to construct […]

Read More
Apr 26th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, News, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Screenshot 2024 04 26 123305
Photo courtesy of the USDA.

A notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is an announcement that allows eligible entities to know when there is an opening to submit funding applications. A NOFO not only announces the availability but also provides timelines and guidance for making funding requests. Federal programs are often designed to pass funds through state-level agencies, but not always. […]

Read More
Apr 24th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Screenshot 2024 04 24 115403
Photo: Rendering of the proposed Civic Center arena in downtown Mobile, Alabama. Courtesy of the city of Mobile.

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 […]

Read More
Apr 19th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Screenshot 2024 04 19 120510
Screenshot 2024 04 19 120510

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a long-awaited report on water quality standards outlining the maximum contaminant levels for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants in drinking water. This marks the first time national standards for a new contaminant have been added to the Safe Drinking Water Act since 1996. It represents, without doubt, […]

Read More
Apr 17th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights by Mary Scott Nabers
cytonn photography n95VMLxqM2I unsplash
Photo by Cytonn Photography via Unsplash

If the U.S. government marketplace is the largest market in the world, surely one should expect it to be competitive and somewhat challenging. A company’s size does not measure success with a good offering; it is almost always measured by understanding the basics — the culture, process and people. Sooner or later, most companies realize […]

Read More
Apr 12th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Sparrows Point Steel Plant
Photo: Sparrows Point Steel Plant. Courtesy of Jeff Kubina.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced more than $1 billion in funding for 110 Superfund projects. The upcoming project sites are scattered throughout the country. All locations are contaminated by industrial waste, and remediation is critically needed. Usually, the agency orders the responsible party to remediate the site, but when no party can […]

Read More
Apr 10th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Southeastern Station Blue Line UPDATE 2 Cropped Resize
Photo: Rendering of the IndyGo Blue Line - Southeastern Station. Courtesy of IndyGo.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced another $20.5 billion in federal funding to support transit projects this year throughout the U.S. The FTA had previously announced $9.9 billion in funding, and this new announcement includes those funds plus quite a bit more. The investment in America’s transit infrastructure will […]

Read More
Apr 5th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
HDR USDA AERIAL 02
Rendering of the $160 million USDA laboratory building and greenhouse facility. Courtesy of the University of Nebraska System.

Most people have heard about earmarks, but only a few citizens really pay attention to them. That should not be the case. The term earmark refers to federal spending for a specific project for a particular congressional district, locality or state. Members of Congress request this type of funding. In the most recent federal budget, […]

Read More
Apr 3rd 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Old WA State Capitol Building
The Old Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington. Courtesy of RToes.

Historical preservation projects are being launched throughout America for two primary reasons: funding is abundantly available, and public assets are treasures that communities like to rescue. The projects create jobs, boost local economies, raise property values and please citizens. Dozens of federal programs provide ample funding support. The National Park Service, which oversees much of […]

Read More
Mar 27th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Screenshot 2024 03 27 115952
Rendering of UW-Madison engineering building. Courtesy of Continuum SmithGroup and the College of Engineering at UW-Madison.

Current data continues to indicate significant increases in student enrollments at universities and community colleges throughout the U.S. Community college enrollment was hit especially hard by the effects of the pandemic, but by 2023 a noted increase of 5.3% in student transfers from community colleges to universities had occurred. That trend continues, and these small-sounding […]

Read More
Mar 22nd 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, News, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
638116410046570000
A rendering of the planned Richardson Municipal Center.

Courthouses across America carry a rich history, with some dating back centuries. However, the upkeep of these aging buildings makes them extremely expensive to operate and maintain. The General Services Administration receives annual funding allocated by Congress, and this funding has recently been increased. Additionally, the recent infrastructure funding available through other programs has also […]

Read More
Mar 20th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Screenshot 2024 03 20 114408
Rendering of the Allston Multimodal Project. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $3.33 billion in grant funding for 132 projects. The revenue will flow from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program and the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. This funding is allocated for projects that reconnect communities that were cut off and/or divided by transportation infrastructure decades ago. It is […]

Read More
Mar 15th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Metzenbaum Courthouse scaled
Photo courtesy of the U.S. General Services Administration.

Here’s a fact that may be surprising – it surely was to me. The construction or renovation of buildings accounts for approximately 39% of the total global energy-related carbon emissions each year. Embodied carbon contributes another 11%. That category refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions generated over the lifecycle of a building, road or […]

Read More
Mar 13th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
636615423695930000
Photo courtesy of Sioux City.

In February of 2024, additional federal funding was announced for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The funding is part of the government’s effort to ensure reliable water resources and safe drinking water throughout America. Almost $6 billion is now available for every state and territory for water projects. As a result, contracting opportunities for private […]

Read More
Mar 8th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
waldemar rHfTdK9YU2Q unsplash
Photo courtesy of Waldemar on Unsplash.

A federal program with a long name is in the process of allocating $5 billion to states for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI), administered by the Federal Highway Administration, is creating hundreds of contracting opportunities. The funding comes from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed […]

Read More
Mar 6th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Guadalupe Reservoir, San Jose, CA
Photo courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Water.

Damage repairs from earthquakes in the U.S. typically cost taxpayers approximately $15 billion a year. Considering that, funding to stabilize or prevent as much damage as possible is a good and prudent effort. According to FEMA and a recent geological survey, the cost of post-earthquake repair can be as much as three times higher than […]

Read More
Mar 1st 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
academy view 1
Photo courtesy of the University of North Texas at Dallas.

America’s fire infrastructure is very old, and government leaders are trying to remedy that situation. Approximately 20,000 U.S. fire stations are over four decades old. That is an alarming statistic because the estimated useful life of a police or fire station is between 20 and 50 years. That means thousands of fire stations in America […]

Read More
Feb 28th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
garrison dam spillway
The Garrison Dam Spillway. Courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers.

It is somewhat challenging to list all the components of water infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the term as “all man-made and natural features that move and treat water.” And because it takes all types of systems and networks to deliver clean drinking water and preserve water resources, it is difficult to identify […]

Read More
Feb 23rd 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
franklin
Rendering of Franklin High School. Courtesy of Macon County Schools.

Congress appropriated an extremely large amount of funding for school projects, and the final round allocations totaled $122 billion. That’s a huge amount – about $380 per person in the U.S. This revenue came through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program and was delivered with a mandated deadline: It must be obligated by […]

Read More
Feb 21st 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
dominik vanyi Mk2ls9UBO2E unsplash
Photo courtesy of Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided approximately $11.3 billion for projects designed to rehabilitate land where old coal mines were located. Since Congress passed the law, funding has been allocated through the Abandoned Mine Land reclamation programs – about $725 million annually. The objective is to support communities and encourage them to clean up dangerous environmental […]

Read More
Feb 16th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
bao menglong FhoJYnw cg unsplash
Photo courtesy of Bao Menglong on Unsplash.

Following a near-total collapse of air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, early 2024 marks a significant milestone as North American air travel is finally returning to normal. Normal, however, may not be the appropriate word because many airports are experiencing significantly higher passenger demand. The demand is driving a huge need for expansion and renovation, […]

Read More
Feb 14th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
artificial intelligence 3382507 1280
Photo courtesy of Gerd Altmann on Pixabay.

Federal research and development are critical to global competitiveness, so Congress is committed to supporting and encouraging both. Federal programs prioritize funding for almost every type of research. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated a little more than $20 billion through 61 research programs. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) dedicated another $2.5 billion […]

Read More
Feb 9th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights, News, Opportunities by Mary Scott Nabers
Columbia Canal Power Plant and Canal Races
The Columbia Canal Power Plant and Canal Races. Courtesy of Jack Boucher.

Demand for renewable energy resources has never been more robust, and billions of dollars in federal funding are now available to support projects designed to meet the demand. Projects that qualify for funding include ones designed to harness energy from water, wind or solar sources. Some technology projects are also eligible. The deployment of renewable […]

Read More