Category: Mary Scott Nabers’ Insights

After more than a decade, Congress is again allowing federal earmarks, and when the recent omnibus appropriations bill was passed, billions became available for new, upcoming projects. While highly populated areas of the U.S. received large funding allocations, rural areas also received millions for projects that have been on wish lists for a very long […]

Here is something no one expected! Public officials throughout the country are struggling with the task of managing large amounts of federal funding currently flowing to them. The revenue is conditioned on rules, compliance, and often a requirement to submit an application to obtain the dollars. Most cities and counties have no systems in place […]

Public officials and economic development organizations throughout the country are now eligible to receive large amounts of federal funding which have been allocated for projects related to tourism, recreation, and revenue-generating venues. The new funding available amounts to approximately $750 million. Because the pandemic significantly damaged operations related to public assets that attracted tourism, served […]

The White House just released a list of stepped-up guidelines related to cybersecurity. The alert is an indication of how genuine the Administration’s concern is about cyberbreaches. The latest communication is likely tied to evolving intelligence indicating that Russia may be planning a cyber-offensive against critical U.S. infrastructure. Federal cybersecurity rules have been in place […]

Port operations throughout the world were damaged when the pandemic occurred. The effects of COVID were significant and the problems have lingered. Supply chain disruptions, port congestion, cruise ship restrictions, budgets stretched to the limit, and limited resources – these are but a few disruptions that still plague port officials. Now, however, there is an […]

Roadway contracting over the next several years will be noticeably different. The most common new components to anticipate are various types of innovative technology. Demand also will be high for multimodal enhancements such as walking and biking lanes, environmental landscaping designed to calm motorists, and electronic signage. As the country’s infrastructure is expanded, enhanced, and […]

Companies with service offerings and/or capabilities associated with resilience projects would be wise to check their current registration status with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Small and minority firms should definitely reach out to check their status and learn more about special benefits their certification categories provide to prime contractors. This alert to […]

Funding allocations from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are arriving early for airport improvement projects relative to other federal tranches, and now there is visibility into planned upcoming opportunities throughout the country. Companies that offer planning and design services are already working on pre-procurement documents. Billions will be spent to upgrade facilities, expand taxiways, […]

Citizens and taxpayers may be surprised to learn that massive amounts of funding are now available for upgrading parks, planting trees, creating additional bike trails, and developing all types of areas for cultural events and community gatherings. Land values will be enhanced, jobs will be created, tourism will flourish, and there will be an abundance […]

Cybersecurity, cyberbreaches, attack agents, global threats – these words are frightening to IT professionals throughout the country. Every media outlet, however, reminds us that these words signal an alarm to citizens, taxpayers, non-profits, and private-sector companies. Cyberbreaches are extremely dangerous, and they are occurring somewhere in America almost every day. Cyberattacks are widening in their […]

A program that has been in existence for decades is currently attractive enough to be called ‘a hot commodity.’ The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program that invests federal revenues in local projects. Over the years, it has become one of the most sought-after funding […]

A changing world is never completely predictable … but it is not hard to identify a few emerging trends that have already resulted in massive change – change destined to impact the future. Success for individuals, businesses, and governmental entities will depend on how quickly new trends and changes are recognized … because some adapting […]

Tunnel construction, a lynchpin for many critical infrastructure projects, will be front and center for the next several years. Bridge work will be just as abundant. Tunnels enable seamless transportation, contribute to the efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities, and enhance flood mitigation efforts. Bridges are required for seamless transportation as well, and thousands of America’s […]

A law that people know well, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), was passed by Congress more than three decades ago. Now, however, it has moved to center stage in the public arena because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). A significant portion of the massive funding bill is specifically earmarked for ADA compliance projects, […]

Massive amounts of information have been disseminated about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – but perhaps the volume and variety of messages have been overwhelming. For whatever reason, there is a troubling amount of confusion and a lack of clarity about all the new funding programs, when the revenue will begin flowing, and how it can […]

An abundance of funding has been allocated to public transit authorities … and more funding is on the way courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Interestingly, a trend has emerged that indicates a common practice throughout the country. Public officials at the local levels of government are designing transit projects to spur other types of […]

Modern and well-run libraries have been treasured public assets for communities for decades. These unique public facilities serve many purposes – they are bastions of educational materials, home bases for creative inspiration, and repositories of equitable learning infrastructure for all citizens. Because of their prominence and importance, hundreds of new libraries are receiving an inordinate […]

The interest in renewable energy is destined to escalate. Recently, the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program enhanced the appeal for these types of projects while also expanding the scope. The ITC program encourages private investment in renewable energy projects by offering lucrative incentives in the form of tax credits. For offshore wind projects, it […]

Not everyone knows that the federal government’s infrastructure bill includes a $1.6 billion funding allocation for projects related to ferry services. Private-sector contractors should take a moment to check out some of the upcoming projects designed to amplify ferry services throughout the U.S. In California, public officials are pursuing well-funded initiatives to improve ferry operations […]

Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology is becoming a common component in our daily lives even though the term remains unfamiliar to many people. LiDAR uses a beam of airborne laser light to map out ranges in 3-D. These images are integral to construction, engineering, and geographical information systems industries. LiDAR technology is especially useful […]

Adaptive reuse is a terminology, process, and trend that is becoming quite common in government marketplaces. Public officials throughout the country are launching adaptive reuse projects involving government facilities that already exist. Rather than launch entirely new construction projects, public officials, especially in cities and counties, are choosing to redevelop their backlog of abandoned brownfield […]

Before the labor shortage and supply chain problems began — even before the pandemic that fueled them started — automation was a buzzword for planners and public officials. Now, automation may be the public sector’s best bet for dealing with stifling setbacks to the global supply chain. The term, automation, refers to any system that […]

It has been 74 days since Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. As public officials, citizens and companies wait, it is time to get a clear picture of what is happening now, what happens next and what $1.2 trillion will do for communities throughout the U.S. Here’s a sampling of what it is important to […]

City officials, for years, have struggled to find ways to provide more affordable housing options for residents, and now funding for these efforts is more available than ever. One funding source that has created revenue specifically for affordable housing is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) program. It offers extremely attractive incentives for private-sector investors, […]

Throughout history, college campuses have transformed students into global leaders by equipping them with the resources and knowledge required to address the world’s most troubling issues. That’s a critical component of every aspect of our well-being around the world. So, it is important for U.S. colleges and universities to have the talent and the required […]