Author: Mary Scott Nabers

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an $800 million allotment for rural infrastructure projects. Although the funding may seem insignificant, it will greatly increase the number of new projects launched in 2024. It is also important to note that the federal funding, in almost every case, will be supplemented by other state or […]

New York City declared a state of emergency recently because of damage from the extraordinary flash floods, which destroyed streets, devastated property and completely upended mobility. Delivering over seven inches of rain in one day, it was one of the most impactful weather events ever experienced by the city. Data released this week by the […]

A federal program that allocates funding for initiatives that ‘connect communities’ is responsible for hundreds of new projects in America. Because of its unique success, the program is also credited as the impetus for hundreds of similar projects that now receive funding from other sources. The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees the Reconnecting Communities Program […]

The federal government just allocated $1.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to support rail infrastructure projects nationwide. Seventy projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C., are recipients of the funding. This year’s allocation is the largest that has ever been dispensed partly because of disruptions in the supply chain caused by COVID-19. The federal […]

Public recreational initiatives are creating an abundance of government contracting opportunities throughout America as local governments build parks, aquatic centers, urban socializing spaces, walking trails, sports facilities and event centers. These initiatives facilitate activities enjoyed by citizens and result in new tax revenue, economic stimulus, higher property values and job creation. Then… there is the […]

TIPs and STIPs are acronyms for transportation improvement programs at the local and state levels of government. The formal names are ‘Transportation Improvement Program’ and ‘Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.’ They both fund transportation projects and allow for the coordination of federal, state, and local funding. TIPs are locally approved plans which have been developed by […]

Green Infrastructure ꟷ a phrase that has become quite common, is generating lots of discussion. Perhaps that’s because of the significant amount of funding now available for projects that fall into this category. These types of projects promote environmentally friendly solutions to current problems, and the funding supports rain gardens, stormwater parks, permeable pavement, subsurface […]

A new federal funding program has just been announced. The Department of the Interior will oversee what has been named the WaterSMART Program. It is designed to provide funding for projects that fortify the Western region of the U.S. against drought and climate-related water scarcity. The Bureau of Reclamation initially made $180 million in initial […]

There’s too much confusion about public private partnership (P3) engagements. That really needs to change. Unless something significant alters public funding for infrastructure projects in the next several years, P3 engagements will likely become one of America’s most common forms of project delivery for government. Every jurisdiction has benefitted significantly over the last few years […]

America’s aging public school infrastructure has been neglected for decades but that is changing rapidly now. Significant funding support is available from the federal government’s Renew America’s Schools Program, making revenue available for every level of the country’s education network. Many 50-year-old structures in various stages of disrepair will receive priority. The grant program also […]

There are many sources of funding for healthcare needs and a new round of funding allocations was announced last month. This new funding will support approximately 170 rural healthcare projects waiting to be launched nationwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several types of rural programs, and the agency has announced new funding (totaling […]

Almost every correctional facility in America is old, inefficient, costly to operate and overcrowded. Very few have adequate space for education and rehabilitation services and almost none have critical care space for healthcare and mental health services. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons operates 122 prisons, and 31% are over half a century old. According to […]

A less known, and often overlooked, federal program, the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), continually provides millions in funding to support projects that upgrade, repair, or improve the sustainability of historic sites and facilities. The federal law that created the program and funded it is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. There are other funding […]

School doors will open for the start of the 2023-24 school year with many campuses under construction. Hundreds of new planned construction and renovation projects will launch during this current school year. In fact, billions of dollars have already been approved for projects that will get underway over the next two years. Examples of what […]

Bridge projects currently in the planning phases are abundant throughout the country. Most are large and complex and the majority fall into the category of critical infrastructure. The examples that follow point to commonalities that can be found in planning documents. All projects are likely to launch late this year or early in 2024. A […]

City and county budgets for 2024 are either approved or about to be approved throughout the country. Analyzing the planned expenditures for upcoming projects provides interesting insight into upcoming contracting opportunities of all types. Construction projects are usually tagged with the highest cost projections. But that broad category also includes more than just construction expertise. […]

  Public-private partnership (P3) engagements are continually becoming more common and that is because of two basic reasons. First, significant amounts of funding are required – but rarely available – for large and complex projects that carry multi-million-dollar project costs. Secondly, many projects require specific types of unique expertise that public entities do not have […]

Billions of dollars are available throughout the country for new healthcare facilities, and many of them will be designed to provide mental health services. The needs related to behavioral health are great in America, and the growing number of individuals waiting for services and support is escalating at alarming rates. Because of that, the upcoming […]

Technology is evolving so fast that it’s almost impossible to stay current with the newest offerings. The benefits and capabilities are extremely significant. Because of that, billions of dollars are currently available for technology modernization in public entities at every jurisdictional level of government. Federal funding is available for both state and local government officials, […]

Looking into the short-term future, it’s clear that public funding is not adequate to cover all the country’s critical infrastructure needs. That’s why it has become common for Congress to place new stipulations on grant funding that is available to state and local governments. These changes now incentivize, or in some cases mandate, private sector […]

Big construction and development projects are extremely prominent in the government sector. Funding is being consolidated from federal grants, economic development budgets, state allocations, and local bond elections to tackle big initiatives that will create not only jobs but also provide ongoing revenue generation for governmental entities. Examples of projects currently on launch pads throughout […]