Late last year, a survey of 38 state IT directors found that over half were focused on modernizing old legacy technology systems. The officials also reported having difficulty finding and retaining employees with the expertise required to carry out legacy modernization efforts. Because of that, technology contracting firms are in high demand to modernize legacy […]
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is spearheading a federal initiative to make STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering and math) a fundamental priority in America’s education system. Federal officials will increase funding to support the implementation of high-quality STEM programming for students. The new federal initiative is already having a noticeable impact on public university […]
Sites listed on the National Park Service’s Register of Historic Places are getting lots of attention, and there is an abundance of funding available for upgrades to facilities located on them. Funding and support are available because these sites and the benefits they provide preserve the country’s legacy and also spur economic development in regions […]
The new federal budget – the one proposed for 2024 – requests $74 billion to upgrade government technology. This reflects a 13% increase over the amount of federal money allocated for technology in 2023. The allocation is long overdue. In fact, it is almost impossible for public entities to manage mandates with the outdated technology […]
Government can be extremely confusing, and it is often difficult to get information about how things work. So, now that there is so much public funding available for projects of all types, it seems important to raise the visibility of good funding sources and try to help people know how to access them. Infrastructure investment […]
Local governments have no shortage of reasons to invest in new parks. The available funding is incredibly abundant. It’s available because park enhancement projects deliver so many critical benefits – coastal resilience, economic development, greener environments, community enhancements and improved connectivity. Public park projects can be funded from many sources, but one very lucrative source […]
The significance of electrification, a trend now sweeping America, must be noted. Its economic impact will be historic, and numerous industries will be changed forever. More than half a trillion dollars has already been allocated through federal programs to fund electrification of the country’s infrastructure. It’s important to remember that infrastructure covers all basic physical […]
Most citizens understood what ‘Congressional earmarks’ were in the past but then new rules were adopted and earmarks were no longer allowed. Now, however, earmarks are back, and it is important to watch them because they signal upcoming projects that will be of high interest to many firms. Congressional elected officials are now tagging bills […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau has a new funding and resource program designed to help communities launch large projects. It’s called Thriving Communities and it was created by passage of the Appropriations Act. The program will provide an abundance of funding, assistance and other resources to communities ready to launch infrastructure projects […]
Natural disasters are becoming more regular and more intense. Thousands of lives have been lost over the last several years and trillions of dollars have been spent on the accumulated damage. The growing cost of coping and dealing with the aftermath of weather events has made one thing abundantly clear – investing in resilience makes […]
Ever wonder how much it would take to make all of America’s bridges safe and in good repair? Spoiler alert – it will require billions. A recent study released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that $48 billion will be required just to replace and/or rehabilitate National Highway System bridges currently classified as “structurally […]
Support for public-private partnerships (P3s) continues to mount and federal programs are available to help fund P3 projects. Not only is the federal government encouraging private sector collaboration and investment, guidance for public officials ready to launch the projects is also available now. The newly launched Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program has placed assistance centers throughout […]
Bus rapid transit (BRT) system activities should not be overlooked if partnering with the government is of interest. This is a ‘hot’ marketplace for contracting and collaboration. Opportunities will include, but not be limited to, initiatives that enhance and make route schedules more efficient, convenient and appealing. The construction of sheltered wait stations, real-time mapping […]
Federal programs that have been significantly enhanced are now responsible for hundreds of new projects called ‘rail to trail’ initiatives throughout the U.S. Congress authorized billions of dollars to support multi-use trails and other kinds of non-motorized transportation projects and the funding is now flowing through the Federal Highway Administration. In fact, the distribution is […]
A recent study revealed some shocking facts. Researchers with Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, provided data that points to more than 200 million Americans who must depend on contaminated drinking water. Chemicals that are commonly used to treat manufactured products for heat resistance and water repellence (PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’) are now in the […]
American ports, even those that are among the busiest in the world, have faced near-crippling levels of congestion since the outbreak of COVID. Supply chain back-ups have also had a negative impact. The smaller ports especially have scrambled to meet demand, but it is obvious that operational inadequacies at all U.S. ports must be addressed. […]
Public officials at the local levels of government are using recent increases in tax revenue to support tourism projects. State officials throughout the country are also launching new funding programs to increase economic development and lock in future economic vitality. The result is that there is about to be an abundance of new contracting opportunities […]
The federal government is changing the rules for some very significant funding programs. Many of the changes relate to how federal agencies will distribute funding to state and local governments and the types of projects the funding will support. Rules emphasizing cybersecurity, clean energy, resilience, environmental justice and equity (among other priorities) are already impacting […]
Over recent years, smart technologies that emphasize automation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and data monitoring have become critical components of infrastructure modernization projects. Public officials are doubling down on these types of technologies because of the benefits they deliver. Smart technology was first noticed when governmental entities installed LED lighting, synchronized and adjustable […]
Enrollment data for K-12 school systems in the U.S. can fluctuate dramatically from year to year. Regardless of whether enrollment increases or decreases, the numbers point to demand changes and, more often than not, school officials must address growth with new construction projects. For school districts with land-ownership portfolios, the most common approach […]
Throughout the country, consortiums, partnerships and work groups are being formed to launch large critical projects. There’s a reason for the collaboration and it is noteworthy enough to point out what the data shows. Partnerships and regional consortiums accomplish more than any one public entity can deliver, especially when funding is needed for large, complex […]
America will continue to be a global economic leader only if the country maintains a skilled and trained future workforce. That critical component could cease to exist without continual monitoring and ongoing training initiatives. Fortunately, public officials at every level of government are committed to maintaining the country’s global status and they are working to […]
The federal government released a National Cybersecurity Strategy last week. It provides guidelines about how cybersecurity should be used to protect critical infrastructure in America. The strategy identifies five key objectives that are eligible for funding. The targets include defending critical infrastructure, disrupting threat actors, taking a more active role related to protection, investing in […]
Many parts of the country have experienced catastrophic winter weather events in recent years. In Texas recent winter weather issues were exacerbated when over-taxed grid networks failed to perform. Grid failures are why some public officials are spending millions on energy resilience projects. The U.S. solar market, which is just one segment of the energy […]
According to data released in 2022, the U.S. currently faces a shortage of approximately 3.8 million homes. More recent projections suggest that number may now be even higher. To address this extremely critical issue, Congress authorized an abundance of funding and an attractive tax incentive plan to address the problem. The federal government’s Housing and […]
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