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.
Large airport projects move closer to launch stages
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...
Funding opportunities for research and development projects are open now
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...
Open enrollments are currently available for renewable energy projects
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...
Affordable housing projects benefit from numerous incentives, funding support, and more
Some people know about Public Facility Corporations (PFCs), but only a few, it seems. Public officials, however, are very familiar with PFCs because affordable housing and essential housing facilities are at the top of their priority list. PFCs are commonly involved...
Technology is changing the world; government cannot be left behind
There is no argument - everyone agrees technology is changing our world! Technological evolution and innovation trends are rampant. Changes are happening so fast that it’s simply not possible to keep up with everything. However, because taxpayer dollars fund much of...
Funding is available for projects that mitigate flooding risks and provide sustainable infrastructure
Every $1 spent on flood mitigation before disaster strikes yields $6 to $7 in saved recovery costs, according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA. Meanwhile, the number of properties in the U.S. that suffer from repeated flood damage is rising at...
Some of the largest infrastructure projects will involve tunnels
Aging tunnels in America, coupled with the country’s continued growth, have created an extremely high demand for attention. The imminent repair and replacement will result in significant growth in the tunnel construction market in North America over the next several...
Local government officials will appreciate this funding
There is a sector of a federally funded program that I fear is not getting enough attention. This program supports many of the local projects I know public officials want to launch. The Facilities Grant Program, administered through the Treasury Department, is...
Want to be more successful in capturing government contracts? Here’s how to get started.
After working for the past 25-plus years to help companies be successful in selling to government, I get questions daily about what it takes to be successful in the public sector marketplace. This column’s objective is to provide some “Best Practices for Success”...
The abundance of upcoming surface transportation projects creates high demand for experienced contracting partners
Large funding grants for surface transportation projects are available from the federal government’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program. This program, actively overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is especially focused on funding projects...
Hundreds of bridge repair and replacement projects will launch soon
It is shocking to realize that more than 42% of America’s 617,000 bridges are more than half a century old, and one-third of them are in dire need of repair or replacement. Even more sobering is the fact that 46,000 U.S. bridges are considered structurally deficient...
Funding is flowing for upgrades to America’s healthcare infrastructure
In the United States, there are over 6,000 hospitals, approximately 1 million hospital beds and thousands of small clinics. The physical healthcare infrastructure includes buildings, research labs, costly mechanical systems, leading-edge technology and medical...
Large renovation projects will be abundant in 2024
In past years, it was likely more difficult for companies to categorize renovation and repair projects as highly attractive. That might not be the case anymore. Public entities throughout the U.S. are designing extremely large renovation projects, and without a doubt...
Billions more are flowing for projects…don’t overlook this sector
The Federal Transit Administration has about $4.5 billion available in 2024 for transit projects of all types. This includes bus rapid transit projects, light rail and commuter rail initiatives. While most of the projects involve state departments of transportation,...
Funding is now flowing for a type of project that could be overlooked
Here’s something that will be easily missed… but hopefully not by our readers. In December, the Federal Highway Administration announced $110 million in grant funding for 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 states. That may sound like these projects will be small, but...
America’s roadway fatality rates have resulted in millions to support safety projects throughout the country
Here’s something that may surprise you! Statistics tell us that American roads are more dangerous than those of other developed countries. The U.S. roadway fatality rate has hovered around 12 deaths per 100,000 motorists for the past 15 years, while other developed...
Water infrastructure upgrades and expansion projects will likely reach historic numbers in 2024
When the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) went into effect in 2021, it included the largest funding allocation ever made for water infrastructure – $55 billion for projects to improve access to clean drinking water throughout the United States. The Environmental...
Recent $8.1 billion allocation for rail projects should stir some interest in 2024
Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced $8.1 billion in funding for passenger rail projects. The funding is a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that Congress passed several years ago, but the funding now is flowing aggressively. This...
Congress appropriated $2.3 billion for U.S. ferries – hundreds of opportunities for public-private collaborations will launch in 2024
In November, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced another $220 million in grant funding for upcoming ferry projects. The awards will support 13 projects in eight states and American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the U.S. This funding was...
A large 2024 market sector that should not be overlooked
Several months ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 33rd anniversary. The law, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, currently covers support and assistance for approximately 42 million people in America. Mandated...
City leaders are renovating or replacing city halls throughout the U.S.
Federal funding programs are currently supporting initiatives to replace, renovate or prepare public assets for reuse. Courthouses and city halls appear to be receiving an abundance of attention. It is uncommon to see a jurisdictional trend as strong as this type of...
$492 billion in infrastructure funding remains to be allocated… but it all ends in 2026
Two years after the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), an estimated $492 billion remains in federal funding for American infrastructure projects. However, it is crucial to note that...
Upcoming transportation projects are outlined in planning documents throughout America
Many people complain about toll road fees. The most common comment is, “Why should I have to pay for using a road that was constructed with my tax dollars”? The answer is simple. The fees required to maintain, expand and construct roadways throughout the state must...
Public safety and emergency services represent upcoming projects with billions in projected costs for 2024 and 2025
Cities and counties throughout the U.S. are currently planning to launch new facilities to house fire and police stations. A significant number of these new projects will be designed to consolidate fire and police operations. Others will consolidate not only police...
Regional competition for tourism, funding has created many collaborative opportunities
Several years ago, government officials began investing in large projects designed to increase tourism, attract conventions and events to their region and monetize existing public assets. Economic vitality in every part of the country is a high priority, and the...
America’s ports surge ahead with $5 trillion in funding for groundbreaking infrastructure overhaul
America’s coast hosts more than 300 ports, which are vital to the U.S. economy. Annually, the ports contribute more than $5 trillion to the country’s GDP. Although port traffic was disrupted significantly by COVID-19, it is greater now than ever. Before the pandemic,...
This issue provides thousands of new opportunities for collaboration
America has a waste problem – not only is it expensive, but it is a daunting issue for all. Public waste-management operations in many cities cannot absorb population growth, urban expansion and the overwhelming increase of industrialization. New systems, locations,...
The electrification of vehicles in America is occurring rapidly in bus fleets
The effort to electrify vehicles is a growing trend sweeping through America. The task is expensive enough to keep it from ever being quick. Still, funding is available from numerous sources and the commitment to accomplish what would once have seemed impossible is...
America has new funding for projects that provide energy resiliency
A new multi-billion-dollar funding program was created recently to support energy infrastructure projects that strengthen America’s power supply. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will oversee the $10.5 billion program, and the first round of funding has now been...
U.S. airports will offer hundreds of collaboration opportunities in 2024
Airports nationwide either have major upgrades in progress, or such initiatives are being designed for a 2024 launch date. A significant decline in air travel related to pandemic restrictions has been dramatically reversed and recent studies now report that a majority...
Approved funding from bond elections represents billions for projects in 2024
Efforts are underway throughout the country to upgrade and expand America’s infrastructure. More often than not, the required funding is made available through local bond elections. When elected officials seek approval for funding that will become debt, the projects...
Clean energy projects are abundant now but will likely double or triple in the next several years
Funding and support are abundantly available for clean energy projects in America. The federal government has allocated billions in funding to incentivize Americans to move to clean energy. A head-spinning amount of the funding is earmarked for projects that...
Smart City competitionꟷ one of the best ways possible to showcase successful public private partnerships
The pace of change in our world is so rapid that just acknowledging the evolutionary advances can be challenging. But one trend that should not be overlooked is the growth occurring in urban areas of America. There’s a significant shift in where people choose to live...
New funding for water and wastewater projects in less populated parts of the U.S.
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...
Weather-related disasters result in new funding for mitigation projects
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...
Here’s a transformative trend in America that should not be overlooked
Construction activity on university campuses in America is more than noteworthy. In fact, it is being categorized as transformative! Due to a massive increase in students after COVID-19, a construction trend is sweeping college and university campuses in response to...
Funding to ‘connect communities’ results in hundreds of new projects
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...
New funding announced for upcoming infrastructure projects
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...
Benefits from recreational projects are responsible for the launch of hundreds of new construction initiatives
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...
Funding for infrastructure projects continues to expand
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...