Author: Mary Scott Nabers

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 […]

Economic development is the highest priority for a majority of America’s mayors. And, within that category, parks and recreation is the No. 1 redevelopment priority throughout the country. There are several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that parks generate an incredible amount of revenue for cities. One source reports that more […]

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, America’s schools are in dire need of attention.  That’s obviously a significant understatement because the report explains that the needs of K-12, the U.S.’ second-largest infrastructure sector, will exceed approximately $870 billion between now and the next several years. Of this amount, $490 billion in funding has […]

There are often dire predictions about the U.S. housing marketplace. Experts in the commercial sector worry about interest rates, construction labor shortages, and declining demand. In the government housing marketplace, however, the concerns all center on the great demand for affordable housing, student housing on college and university campuses, and homeless shelters and public housing […]

New trends and contracting opportunities related to public safety all seem to revolve around technology and construction. Thousands of immediate contracting opportunities exist, and they may be found throughout the country at every jurisdictional level of government. Citizens expect to be protected from crime, weather, traffic hazards, fire, and every type of disaster. Taxpayers demand […]

Opportunities continue to be abundant in the health care sector. Because the demand for services is great, competition between health care providers is extremely keen. Every company or system is eager to capture more market share, and that is generating thousands of contracting opportunities for other companies. In 2018 alone, 12 hospital systems announced construction […]

The 1,051 community colleges in the United States – more than 900 of which are public – are no longer viewed as stepping stones for students on the path to a degree from a four-year institution. Because of the country’s growing economy and the immediate need for specialized workers, community colleges are a critical component […]

Cities throughout the United States are announcing revitalization projects. The trend is strong – so strong, in fact, that it’s hard to find a state without a number of cities either in the planning or launching stages of rebuilding their urban cores. These types of initiatives have common components, and they all have a need […]

  Counties are critical to successful economic development efforts. That’s because counties maintain 46 percent of the country’s public road miles and build and maintain more than 38 percent of bridges throughout America, according to National Association of Counties data. They also support more than 900 hospitals nationwide and are involved in the operation of […]