Expert Insights
Expert Insights
As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., Mary Scott Nabers has decades of experience working in the public-private sector. A well-recognized expert in the P3 and government contracting fields, she is often asked to share her industry insights with top publications and through professional speaking engagements. Get an exclusive look at upcoming trends and insider tips from Mary herself on the SPI blog.
Congress is being urged to cut transportation funding? Really?
Despite rhetoric about wanting to address America’s crumbling infrastructure, President Trump’s budget suggests cutting a program essential to transportation in the U.S. How can this be justified? Are people aware of this? TIGER grants (from the Transportation...
Another way to fund public assets
One important issue is missing from the national conversation about the country’s infrastructure needs. Most of the recent attention has been focused on roads, bridges, electric grids and water - but looming large is the absence of funding for public facilities....
Are we headed for a blockchain revolution? Maybe so!
Two words - blockchain and cryptocurrencies - became major buzzwords in 2017. By 2018, citizens, taxpayers and the public at large have no option – we must understand these concepts because both will likely touch our lives in the very near future. Governmental...
Watch these cities for innovative leadership
“Innovation” could be municipal government’s middle name. When it comes to creativity and resourcefulness – city leaders take a backseat to no one. Local public officials don’t have the luxury of living on the periphery of problems. Instead, they live in the middle...
Let’s ask Congress to respect the importance of our airports!
As the fight over funding rages on in Washington, Congress is suggesting new ways to scoop up revenue that could have a very negative impact on America’s airports. A Senate proposal to nearly double the passage facility charge, which is known as the airport tax, has...
How much do we care about water resources and water safety?
Now that the Trump infrastructure plan has been released, the question is, “Will it hold water?” That’s a question of high interest to people who deal with water issues on a daily basis. City, county and state officials who need financial assistance for projects...
Protecting America’s power grids – a huge new marketplace filled with opportunities for companies with cybersecurity capabilities
America’s power grids have been vulnerable to physical and cyberattacks for a very long time. But now, the very frightening possibility of losing power because of a security breach is getting an abundance of attention. This threat should receive attention – it is long...
America desperately needs an ‘Infrastructure Revolution’
Just two days after releasing details of his $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan, President Trump made a surprise announcement. During a meeting with congressional leaders, the President offered a shocker – saying he now favors a 25-cent increase in the federal gas tax...
Trump’s Infrastructure Plan is out – and controversy is rampant!
President Trump released his Infrastructure Plan on Monday and to no surprise…it pleased almost no one…other than perhaps those who crafted it. Some have questioned whether the plan pleases anyone. The plan has been touted as a $1.5 trillion investment but there is...
Bridge safety should become a national concern
There are more than 54,000 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S. That designation does not mean the bridges are in imminent danger of collapsing, but it does mean that they need immediate attention. That fact becomes more alarming when one realizes that every day...
Government needs private sector expertise – collaboration should be easier!
Working with government procurement has changed over the past few years…and not necessarily for the better. Unfortunately, it is often harder now to sell to government than it was in the past. State and local government spending now surpasses even that of the federal...
Solar Energy Industry Sector Gets Slammed
Projections of a possible record year for electric power production from renewable energy sources have been tempered significantly by actions of the Trump administration. The announcement that the U.S. government would impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar...
Sports facilities offer an abundance of new construction opportunities
We’re only days away from the 52nd Super Bowl and there’s lots of activity in Minneapolis. Construction is winding down on an expansion to the football stadium that will accommodate even more spectators and the ever-expanding needs of media coverage. The game will be...
Infrastructure plan moves closer to public release
The nation’s long-awaited Infrastructure Plan will be addressed during next week’s State of the Union address, according to President Trump, who also says the plan that originally was expected to result in a $1 trillion nationwide infrastructure investment has now...
President’s infrastructure plan outlined
The expanded use and funding for Private Activity Bonds (PABs) has again taken over the spotlight in infrastructure debate in America. A six-page document claimed to be the draft outline for President Trump’s long-awaited national infrastructure plan was leaked this...
State and local government leaders continue to be great innovators
Municipal and county leaders throughout the country are in a bind. Coming off a year scarred by devastating multi-billion-dollar natural disasters, they are grappling with historic rebuilding efforts…while also dealing with the demands of dozens of other critical...
Government construction projects may never be the same
Major disasters became almost commonplace in 2017. Regions within the U.S. suffered more than $300 billion in damages and many cities and counties were decimated. Wise people know that when the pain is great enough, change usually occurs…that is definitely happening...
One example of big changes occurring at the local levels of government!
Hundreds of local government officials are scrambling because their 2018 plans for affordable housing projects have been turned upside down as a result of the new tax bill. Most were planning to use federal tax credits for upcoming projects. The federal tax credits in...
Government officials are planning to modernize old technology and legacy systems in 2018
President Trump recently signed the Modernizing Government Technology Act into law as part of an amendment to the defense bill. This statute now allows federal agencies to reprogram unused IT budget allocations to fund modernization projects. While this action only...
Developers find new opportunities on university campuses
Mixed-use development, which was once rather unique to urban renewal and commercial endeavors, is now a hot new trend on university campuses. Throughout the country, college campuses are being transformed into communities and it is typical to see restaurants, retail...
Interested in a trillion-dollar marketplace in 2018?
Here’s a market segment worth monitoring in 2018 – social infrastructure. If social infrastructure is not a familiar term, think of it as construction related to social services – healthcare (hospitals), education (schools and universities), public facilities...
State funding continues to shrink – most large public projects will require alternative types of funding in 2018
As a new year approaches, state lawmakers throughout the U.S. are projecting the lowest state spending increases since the Great Recession. In fact, public-sector spending at the local levels of government has been outpacing state spending for a number of years. A...
Technology firms should love 2018 government IT spending projections
2017 was a banner year for technology sales in government. One of the largest contracts of the year came from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. That agency awarded a $723 million contract to overhaul its ticketing program to allow passengers to pay with...
Big changes are occurring on college and university campuses
College and university executives struggle valiantly as the gap between their critical funding needs and the revenues they receive grows larger each year. State spending on public higher education is now well below pre-Recession allocations, according to the Center on...
Infrastructure projects worth billions hang in limbo as Congress debates tax reform bill
Senators worked until past midnight in early December to pass their version of a federal tax reform bill. Since the House had passed its version earlier, both houses of Congress are now negotiating final compromises. There are plans to get a bill on the president’s...
Here’s what to expect in 2018 from IT leaders at the state level of government
At the end of every year, a survey is taken to see what the top priorities will be for technology directors at the state level in the coming year. Not only does an IT Director in one state want to know what his counterparts in other states are planning, but many...
Congress will decide funding for state and local water projects
Here’s something important to watch! Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are considering a bipartisan bill to increase the funding available for water infrastructure projects in the future. They are monitoring debate on the reauthorization of the Water...
Cities – where the action is…
Many large cities have been so successful in revitalizing downtown areas, it’s now extremely difficult to find parking, to secure restaurant reservations or lease retail space. People wait for years to lease condos in revitalized urban areas and real estate prices...
Artificial Intelligence – a trend to watch!
Artificial intelligence (AI) – to many individuals, it is exciting. Others may find it frightening and to some it could be significantly disruptive. The way you feel about AI likely depends on where you live, how you work, your age and whether or not AI will threaten...
Unless something changes, transportation problems will encourage futuristic innovation and private sector collaboration
Uber believes the way to avoid traffic congestion is simple – just fly over it. Before laughing, read on. Uber has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to create a new air traffic control system to manage their next project, a fleet of low-flying - possibly...
Here’s something to get vocal about…quickly!
It’s been a contentious week in Congress! The newly minted federal tax reform bill has supporters and detractors and they all have strong opinions. One provision in the bill, however, has attracted an abundance of attention - both from the public at large as well as...
Alternative energy projects generating thousands of contracting opportunities
At the federal level of government, environmental standards for power are being rolled back and regulation is being reduced as fossil fuels make a rebound. But, at the local levels of government, green energy is one of the hottest top priorities. City leaders, with...
Billions of dollars beginning to flow to Texas…contracting opportunities are abundant
A scant two months ago, Hurricane Harvey roared onto shore at Rockport on the way to ravaging the Texas Gulf Coast and inland areas from Houston to the Golden Triangle – becoming the nation’s costliest hurricane on record. The historic and catastrophic storm left...
Funding flowing to Texas resulting soon in hundreds of immediate contracting opportunities
When the Hurricane Harvey federal disaster relief funding spigot finally opens in Washington, D.C., Texas cities and counties with recovery projects – some of which will be mega-million dollar projects - are hopeful their projects will be among those funded. And when...
Electronic vehicles – part of our short-term future!
Electronic vehicles (EVs) are still all the rage. Government leaders definitely like them and want them…but there is a capacity problem. Of the 250-260 million vehicles on U.S. roads last year, only about 540,000 of those were EVs. And of the 17.6 million cars...
Startup firms partnering with government? Really?
Startup companies of all types are hot topics today. They excite investors because some offer great revenue potential. The media loves to write about them and economic development organizations try to attract them because of the jobs they create. Small businesses are...
CIOs embrace collaboration in evolving digital world
Cyberattacks, data breaches and ransomware demands have become almost common in the public sector. Cyberattacks on critical government networks have become a huge problem for public officials. The stress this creates for chief technology officers (CIOs) is great and...
Water, water everywhere…but should we drink it? And, do we have enough of it?
Daily, we are bombarded with messages urging us to drink more water. It’s good for our health. It’s good for energy, endurance and our appearance. Water keeps us hydrated and we can’t live without it. We should all drink lots of water! But, there’s a problem with...
Wow! Few have contemplated this frightening possibility!
The battle between President Donald Trump and the National Football League (NFL) regarding players being allowed to kneel during the pre-game playing of the National Anthem is headed into overtime. The brouhaha has dominated the news for weeks and it centers on some...
Seaports? Who would have predicted there could be this many large port projects?
Very large contracting opportunities are being announced weekly in regions with U.S. seaports. Literally billions of dollars will be spent in the near future on all types of public projects related to ports. The American Association of Port Authorities estimates...