Author: Mary Scott Nabers

When bond elections are as abundant as they are this year, there’s no doubt    thousands of new opportunities will be available for companies to interact with governmental entities. The demand for services of all types will be huge. Government leaders at every jurisdictional level of government need funding for specific projects, and when the revenue […]

Strange as it sounds, budget documents are always interesting reading. That’s especially true when they come from public entities. Government officials, at every jurisdictional level of government, are required to prepare and approve budgets. That’s not an easy or quick task. In fact, public officials spend months documenting anticipated revenues and planned expenditures. Because of […]

Changes are occurring at warp speed, and it’s extremely difficult for busy individuals to stay abreast of what is happening in every area of business. But, it is important to know about government changes because lifestyles and business practices are being impacted in significant ways. Companies that sell to government must remain conversant and understand […]

Looking for a diverse and lucrative public-sector marketplace? If so, don’t overlook upcoming opportunities related to natural disaster recovery in regions that were ravaged by floods, fires, and other weather-related disasters. Demand for private-sector firms to provide services in these regions is extremely high. The U.S. led the world in catastrophes in 2018, and the […]

Student enrollment in colleges and universities throughout the U.S. continues to grow. Data tells us that no matter what the economy does, young men and women realize the importance of getting a degree. Statistics from the Institute of Education Services point to the fact that even during the Great Recession from 2007-2009, student enrollments maintained […]

Significant changes are taking place in local communities at the various jurisdictional levels of government. And, a majority of the changes are related to revenue generation efforts by public officials. That’s because public funding, although stretched to the limit in most regions, no longer covers many critical government requirements. The emerging changes are significant, and […]

We live in a world of smartphones, computers, and 24-hour news cycles. We can obtain information and data on almost anything with a few clicks on a computer. Not much is hidden, or difficult to obtain, or out of reach – except occasionally public information. In a country where longstanding laws ensure that public information […]

Some seasoned government contracting firms have spent decades studying ‘best practices’ associated with winning new business. They know exactly what it takes, and because of that, they incur less risk when pursuing projects. These firms also win lots of government business. Other firms, however, are not quite as knowledgeable. They know enough to be successful […]

Municipal leaders have stressful and difficult jobs. Elected officials and tenured public servants struggle to provide more citizen services with less funding and fewer municipal resources. Public leaders at the local levels of government are guided by mandates that could easily be categorized as ‘stretch goals’. And, they provide services to a diverse group of […]

Transportation infrastructure will stimulate the U.S. economy significantly over the next few years. Hundreds of large projects have been announced; so many in fact, it should be possible for almost every type of contracting firm to find attractive opportunities. Regional transit leaders in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently released a $10 billion transit plan. Upcoming opportunities […]

Very often the SPI Team receives inquiries from public officials about an upcoming project. Their questions are almost always about alternative funding sources or public-private partnerships (P3s). These officials usually are trying to determine whether a particular project is suitable for a P3 engagement. Since the question has become so common, it seems appropriate to […]

Civic outreach plans are critical components of success for large public projects. In spite of data that proves it, public officials often neglect to develop or implement these types of plans. And, experienced contractors often fail to insist on them. Why is that? Could it be because there has been too little attention on why […]

Occasionally, change occurs so rapidly it seems the world is spinning faster than ever. Technology changes occurring in roadways and bridges today are amazing, to say the least. Motorists will soon experience roadway technology never imagined in the past. The transportation sector is definitely a change leader in the U.S. Here are a few examples […]

City leaders throughout the U.S. have made commitments to renewable energy. Most have aggressive goals and plans to rely completely on renewable power sources by a specific year. Community leaders who are not pushing for clean energy sources are out of step with their counterparts. This is because municipal officials are among the strongest advocates […]

Throughout America, there is a robust effort underway to find the best way(s) to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and administrators. Yet, there is no agreement on how to accomplish that goal. Ensuring school safety has become a very difficult and complex pursuit. The need is urgent, but currently there’s no consensus and no […]

There are many ways to identify upcoming contracting opportunities in the public sector marketplace, but one of the most reliable ways is to track feasibility studies. Environmental impact statements also are precursors to the launch of large projects. Here are some efforts that should be of high interest to government contractors. The Capital Area Road […]

Upcoming public sector opportunities can be found in almost every area of the public sector marketplace. But, at the moment, the sheer number of upcoming opportunities related to law enforcement facilities is enough to make one ponder. Has every incarceration facility become obsolete all at once? Have local and state officials all decided to upgrade jails, prisons, and justice centers at the same time for some reason? Are there enough experienced construction […]

At a time when the U.S. Congress cannot agree on an infrastructure plan and funding at the local levels of government is at an all-time low, it’s heartening to see that visionary elected officials continue to find ways to move forward with projects of all types. There are large projects as well as smaller ones, […]

County courthouses, city halls, and government buildings of all types are being renovated, sold, or replaced. Most public facilities of this type are old, inefficient, costly to maintain, and unable to accommodate new technology. Some are unsafe and no longer meet federal compliance standards. Contractors interested in pursuing contracting opportunities to provide upgrades or new construction will find lots of options in every state.  In Scranton, Pennsylvania, city […]

The American Water Works Association has estimated that $1 trillion will be required to maintain and expand water services over the next 25 years. Here’s why: Americans get their water delivered through approximately one million miles of water pipelines. Most of the pipes, however, outlasted their estimated lifespan of 65 to 100 years some time […]

Parking has become a critical consideration for governmental entities throughout the country. In the next 18 months, there will be thousands of upcoming opportunities related to planning, designing, engineering, and constructing new parking facilities. Not only is parking critical to public agencies, but it also is of the highest concern to cities, counties, colleges and […]

Although large airport projects dominate the news, smaller regional airports are announcing numerous immediate upcoming projects.  Record growth at regional airports along with projections that the growth will continue for decades is driving expansion, upgrades, and new construction.  Many of the projects are quite large. The smaller, but crucial, airports are significant economic drivers which […]

Upcoming transportation projects are abundant throughout the country.   Projects of every size and type can be found, but a sweeping trend is for larger projects to be collaborative in nature. Delivery methods may be called public-private partnerships or comprehensive development agreements, but whatever the name, the common link is that private sector capital is invested […]

Cities with vibrant cultural assets attract tourists, retail establishments, hotels, real estate developers, and appreciation from local citizens. Cultural facilities also boost a region’s economic engine. The 2002 redevelopment of Millennium Park in Chicago, for example, spurred $1.6 billion in revitalization nearby. Libraries, museums, multipurpose theaters, recreational venues, and civic centers also are key components […]

Student housing is a critical component when it comes to recruiting students and retaining them through graduation. Young men and women want to live in modern, purpose-built housing within walking distance of campuses. Some will settle for nothing less – and that is driving a tidal wave of demand for modern, appealing housing options on […]