Author: Mary Scott Nabers

Officials at every level of government procure hundreds of professional services to meet specific needs. These types of contracting opportunities are abundant, and many industry sectors fall into a professional services category – planning, design, legal, consulting, engineering, etc. Some of the most commonly requested types of professional services include project management, legal services, feasibility […]

America has water problems. Water stress can be found in almost every state. New Mexico falls into the category of extremely high ‘water stress’ for multiple reasons, including climate change, limited rainfall and reduced volume of water in both the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, which are major water resources for the state. Arizona, California, […]

Transportation systems nationwide are undergoing significant change. Emerging technologies and innovative mobility options are changing all modes of transportation, and soon both people and freight will be transported differently. Intelligent transportation systems use sensors to monitor vehicles, control traffic flow, reduce congestion and improve safety. Some types of technology provide real-time data that is used […]

Cities and counties throughout the U.S. are benefitting from funding that is readily available for transit-oriented development (TOD). Economic development teams have seen the boost of economic vitality that this type of initiative brings to local communities, and the result is that private sector developers and public officials nationwide will be delivering housing, retail and […]

Cities and counties throughout the U.S. are expanding and modernizing public safety facilities. Many are long overdue for upgrades. The urgency to upgrade is because well-maintained and strategically placed facilities contribute to lower response times by police, fire and EMS services. The U.S. has approximately 52,290 fire stations and 19,000 police stations, and their combined […]

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration recently awarded $300 million for upcoming projects designed to expand and modernize the nation’s ferry systems. Specifically, the funding will support 18 new projects in 14 states, including replacing old vessels with electric ships, upgrading the waterfront facilities and modernizing the systems with technology. Alaska’s Department of Transportation was recently […]

Just over a decade ago, a sweeping trend was very noticeable as state agencies, cities, counties, transit authorities and higher education institutions added Innovation Officers at the executive levels of organizational charts. These individuals were hired to play a strategic role – one that would incorporate new thinking into operations. The primary objective in adding […]

Rarely does Congress pass a bill that allocates $50 billion to cities and counties to support water infrastructure projects. But that happened when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed by Congress several years ago. That funding was made available because of the critical need to protect and expand water infrastructure throughout America. As of May […]

A brownfield property is an abandoned site that has been contaminated by previous industrial use. Many brownfield properties are the former sites of dry-cleaning firms, manufacturing plants or gas stations. To be used, the site must be remediated and made safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded remediation projects for years and recently announced […]

The U.S. is experiencing a significant surge in population growth in certain regions, increasing the demand for enhancing or expanding basic infrastructure. Public officials in high–growth regions struggle to expand housing, water, roadways, education facilities, healthcare and public safety. Southern states, including South Carolina, Florida and Texas, increased their populations about four times faster than […]

The sustainable construction market in the U.S. was valued at $99.8 billion in 2023, and that number has continued to grow in 2024. Billions in funding are currently available in 2024 for these types of projects, and more could be allocated soon because Congress is focused on maintaining public assets. Sustainable building practices provide a […]

Public officials at the local government level are initiating large, innovative, and forward-thinking projects aimed at enhancing economic prosperity in various regions of the country over the next few decades. Many of the projects are funded by federal programs, with billions yet to be allocated before the end of 2026 unless the programs are reauthorized—which […]

School district construction throughout the U.S. is rampant currently, and it promises to be the same in 2025. That’s probably because a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that 54% of all schools in America were in dire need of updates or complete building replacements as long ago as 2020. In fact, the […]

At a time when project needs are so great throughout America, it is hard to understand why some cities and states have not endorsed public-private partnerships (P3s). Billions of funding support is available for critically needed efforts, but many of the federal funding programs require some percentage of private sector investment, so the projects become […]

Technology is changing the world as we know it! It seems new technological advances are emerging at the speed of light – and the world shifts a bit with each new development. Sensors and advanced technology now monitor public officials’ activities in hundreds of ways, and artificial intelligence is already providing them with the assistance […]

There is a significant trend to watch as cryptocurrency gains momentum and acceptance. If this trend continues, it will bring about many changes throughout America. The total global value of cryptocurrency now is approximately $3 trillion, and while that may sound small considering the world’s GDP, it is significant because of how quickly that value […]

Clean and renewable energy continues to get abundant attention, and the funding support flowing to support clean power projects is historic. Approximately $3 trillion is invested in energy globally each year, and $2 trillion of that amount is devoted to renewable energy. Hundreds of billions have been invested in clean energy initiatives in the United […]