To no one's surprise, COVID-19 has pushed the country into a designated recession. While keeping a careful watch on public health and safety, government officials and economic leaders are now fervently seeking ways to boost America's economy and to support job creation.

The path out of this recession, according to many fiscal policy experts, is clear. It is through improvements to infrastructure - transportation, water, power, technology, airports and social infrastructure (vertical construction). Addressing those critical needs will stimulate the economy and create jobs immediately. Regional leaders throughout America know how to prioritize critical infrastructure needs - they just need encouragement and funding.

Unfortunately, when it comes to infrastructure, America is more than 30 years behind numerous other countries. Many argue that we are behind because of a lack of revenue, but that's simply not the case. Funding for critical infrastructure projects is available from dozens of sources. The lacking component is leadership, and that is required from many sources.

Iowa - The state's Transportation Commission approved the 2021-2025 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program on June 9 to shape the future of aviation, public transit, railroads, trails, and highways in Iowa.

The program forecasts $3.6 billion will be available for highway right of way and construction. Of that total, more than $2.0 billion is scheduled for the modernization of Iowa's existing highway system and for enhanced highway safety features.

Significant interstate investments include six-lane improvements on Interstate 35 in Polk and Story counties, an Interstate 74 Mississippi River Bridge replacement in Bettendorf, and reconstruction of the interstates 80 and 380 interchange near Iowa City.

Other improvements include upgrading Interstate 80's six lanes in Dallas and Johnson counties, an I-80 Mississippi River Bridge replacement in Scott County, I-380/Tower Terrace interchange construction in Hiawatha, and the interstate system reconstruction in Council Bluffs.

The state retained some important non-interstate projects including Iowa 9 Mississippi River Bridge replacement in Lansing, U.S. 30 in Harrison, Story, Tama, and Benton counties, U.S. 52 in Dubuque County, and U.S. 61 in Des Moines and Louisa counties, U.S. 63 Oskaloosa Bypass in Mahaska County, and U.S. 218 in Bremer County.

Despite limited funding availability, the commission was able to add several significant projects that address safety and operational needs, including reconstruction of Iowa 2 in Fremont County from the Missouri River overflow bridges to Horse Creek bridges. Other projects added are Super-2 improvements on U.S. 18 in Hancock County and U.S. 30 in Cedar County.

Utah - The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently issued a draft environmental impact statement that reports the Lake Powell Pipeline project is the only alternative that will meet the water needs of Washington County by 2060.

The proposed pipeline will transport water from Lake Powell through an approximately 140-mile buried pipeline to Washington County. Five pump stations will move the water through the pipeline. Six hydroelectric facilities will generate part of the energy needed to operate the pump stations.

At full capacity, the project will deliver up to 82,249 acre feet of water per year to cities and towns including St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Santa Clara, Ivins, La Verkin, Toquerville, Leeds, Virgin, and Apple Valley.

Based on preliminary design and engineering, the pipeline is estimated to cost between $1 billion and $1.7 billion. An updated cost estimate will be prepared when environmental studies are complete and alignment and design are determined.

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $281 million in 106 projects to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities throughout the country.

USDA is funding projects in 36 states and Puerto Rico through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

In Illinois, the city of Vandalia will receive $18.1 million in federal assistance to build a water treatment plant, upgrade water intakes and pumps, and install 10,000 feet of water line.

More than $14.65 million will go to the town of Eaton, Indiana, to bring its 70-year-old water utility into compliance with state regulations and effluent quality of water by removing cement and asbestos from a water distribution pipe and using current material.

Henderson Nina Water System Inc. will use $8.51 million in funding to modernize its water system by drilling a well, expanding water lines, adding filters and a softener water system, and replacing obsolete infrastructure.

The city of North English, Iowa will receive $7.65 million in federal assistance to make improvements to its wastewater system including the construction of a 3-cell aerated lagoon to replace a treatment plant. The city also will complete ultra violet disinfection and lining of the collection system, replacement of a lift station, and replacement of deteriorating service lines.

Eligible applicants included rural cities, towns, and water districts. The funds may be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage, and waste disposal systems in rural communities that meet population limits.

California - The Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority is seeking recognition as a new agency from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) and the addition of its Valley Link plan to the Measure BB Transportation Expenditure Plan.

It also is asking the ACTC to remove the $400 million Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to Livermore project from its plan to free up the $400 million the authority needs to fund the Valley Link project.

Phase 1 of the project would establish rail service from the Dublin-Pleasanton BART Station to the proposed North Lathrop-ACE Station. The second phase would extend rail service from the North Lathrop-ACE Station to the Stockton ACE-San Joaquin stations.

The authority's goal is for operations on the new line to begin by 2027 to improve rail connectivity between BART's system and the Altamont Corridor Express commuter service in the Tri-Valley.

Washington, D.C. - President Trump issued an executive order on June 4 requiring the secretaries of the Army and transportation to furnish a list of expedited infrastructure projects and civil works projects within 30 days.

He authorized the secretaries to use all emergency powers within their authority and cited infrastructure improvements as a means to achieve economy recovery for the nation.

Within 30 days following the submission of the initial summary report the secretaries must provide a status report on all expedited transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the assistant to the president for economic policy, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

He also directed the secretaries of defense, interior, and agriculture to expedite delivery of infrastructure and other projects on federal lands and deliver a summary report listing all projects within 30 days of the executive order.

Arkansas - The city of Hot Springs issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the construction of a lake tap into Lake Ouachita through Blakely Mountain. The project budget is $19 million.

The lake tap will include about 2,500 feet of intake piping at a minimum diameter of 42 inches through the mountain to achieve gravity flow to carry water via a 17-mile transmission pipeline to a new water treatment plant. The new project must be able to supply raw water to the new treatment plant by August 2022.

Hot Springs will review and evaluate the statements of qualifications and generate a short list of up to three respondents. The city will then issue a request for proposals (RFP) to the short list and then select a finalist for the award of a fixed-price-design-build contract.

Deadline for RFQ submissions is 4:30 p.m. July 10.