America’s water infrastructure may soon get the attention it deserves now that funding is available. Billions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are on the way to public officials throughout the U.S. Most states are allocating additional funding as well, and many local officials will take advantage of consolidating the two new revenue sources to finance large and costly projects.

The country’s infrastructure needs are massive … and critical. Because of population growth, increased demand now has many regions shockingly close to capacity. Old lead pipelines that deliver water in many parts of America are rusted and corroded, and the water they deliver no longer meets established quality standards.

Fortunately, funding is on the way to public officials who need to address critical water issues. And, the funding rules established by Congress specifically state that projects related to water infrastructure are an allowable expense. According to the Treasury Department, eligible project types include transmission, storage, distribution, treatment, lead service line removal, pollution prevention, stormwater capture, and connections of failing systems to better performing systems.

Many observers, citizens, and taxpayers are urging public officials at all levels of government to act more quickly. Too many decision makers are still stuck in the planning and prioritizing stages. This funding gift is not unexpected – the media has been announcing it for months. The angst that is building is because gathering input from constituents, establishing priorities, and determining how much funding to allocate or consolidate for projects is taking a very long time – possibly too long.

Hope springs eternal though, and most observers believe that public officials responsible for water resources and water quality soon will announce project launches. The following examples outline upcoming projects and some emerging trends. Since ARPA funding must be spent by the end of 2024, project launches are expected soon.

The governor of North Carolina has proposed that $800 million of ARPA funding be allocated to water and wastewater infrastructure projects. An estimated $400 million may be reserved specifically for water, sewer, and stormwater projects for high-stress and at-risk water and wastewater facilities. Another $360 million would be available to other facilities across the state, and the North Carolina plans to match ARPA funding for local governments that rebuild water and wastewater assets.

Minnesota – Gov. Tim Waltz signed an omnibus transportation bill that will provide $6.49 billion for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MinnDOT) in the 2022-23 biennium.

Lawmakers allocated $516.3 million to the Department of Public Safety and $235.7 million to the Metropolitan Council.

State road projects will get nearly $2.11 billion for construction, reconstruction, and improvement of trunk highways, including design-build contracts.

The bill will provide $1.73 billion for improvement to county state-aid highways and $430.82 million for municipal state-aid streets.

Metro Transit will receive $57.5 million to help fund two bus rapid transit lines in the Twin Cities. The E Line will replace Route 6 for an estimated $60 million. The F Line would replace Route 10 for about $80 million. The appropriation will help fund predesign, design, engineering, environmental analysis and mitigation, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and acquisition of rolling stock.

Another $10 million will go toward final design and construction of a second daily Amtrak train service between Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Chicago.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will award $905.25 million in infrastructure grants to 24 projects across the country.

Under the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, projects in 18 states will improve local economies, create jobs, and meet all statutory requirements. For the first time in USDOT’s history, grants were considered by how they would address climate change, environmental justice, and racial equity.

Further, USDOT prioritized funding to rural areas to address historic underinvestment. Approximately 44 percent of proposed funding will be awarded to rural projects, which exceeds the statutory requirements for rural projects set by Congress by 19 percent.

INFRA projects were rated on the extent that they applied innovative technology and whether they could deliver projects in a cost-effective manner.

A few projects that will benefit from the grant funding are:

Congress will have 60 days to review the department’s proposed project awardees. After the 60-day review period, the USDOT will begin obligating funding.

Maine – The state’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input on software for emergency medical licensure, patient care reporting systems, and state EMS repositories.

Maine EMS is interested in providing an opportunity for public safety software vendors to provide a demonstration of the emergency medical data systems. It is the intent of Maine EMS to begin the development of a request for proposals to update and potentially replace the existing EMS records system.

The purpose of the demonstration is to inform Maine EMS staff and committee members as to various features and functions of such systems and to expose staff and committee members to the different technologies available in a modern data system.

In addition to general features, functions, and technology Maine EMS is interested in learning about:

RFI responses are due by 5 p.m. July 16.

New York – A July request for proposals is the next step in New York’s redevelopment strategy for downtown Niagara Falls.

USA Niagara Development Corporation (USAN) is overseeing a plan that addresses the broader context of downtown and nearby destinations, including Niagara Falls State Park, but specifically focuses on 25 properties USAN acquired in 2019 as well as additional city-owned parking lots.

Overall strategies include a range of intermediate steps and attainable site development guidelines for re-imagining a vibrant downtown, while building momentum for long-term development.

Redevelopment of the Old Falls area of the city is the first RFP scheduled in a series of solicitations. The new plan proposes landscaping, a green wall, and pop-up businesses for this section, while its development strategy option includes hotels, retail, dining, and residential uses.

The proposed action plan focuses on building three types of developments:

Plan objectives divide these sites into clusters and analyze them to propose both near-term suggestions for activation and longer-term future development scenarios involving higher capital expenditures.

Recommendations for the five sites include luxury campsites for glamping, an independent hotel, townhomes, landscaping to add recreation features, a public access lodge and park or a private lodge and park, and a mixed-use block with hotel, retail/food and residential components centered around a plaza that interprets the historic hydraulic canal that once ran through the site.

Interim strategies for the Upper Rapids area propose heritage inn-type lodging, a hotel and brewery/event space or hotel and low-rise attached vacation rentals.

The strategy is a first step in New York State and USAN’s process to bring these dormant sites back to productive use. It will serve as a guide as they work with other public agencies and private-sector partners to design and construct projects.

California – Looking toward future opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s), California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) pushed back several dates for its request for qualifications (RFQ)

The university will host a mandatory informational meeting at 2 p.m. local time July 27 via teleconference for potential P3 advisers. The revised deadline for receipt of qualifications is 2 p.m. September 16.

CSULB is searching for P3 advisory firms that can integrate economic, technical, and contractual expertise across all asset classes and P3 markets.

The advisory firm should have technical expertise, engineering expertise related to energy and utilities, and experience in revenue forecasting, insights into sociopolitical and legislative trends, assistance in the delivery of P3 bids, and other alternative procurement methods, refinancing, and development activities.

CSULB's capital development aspirations aim to support the future of university growth and strategic planning as defined in Beach 2030. This entails advancing the university's strategic initiatives, meeting future programmatic goals, building community partnerships, fulfilling sustainability goals, and revitalizing its operation model.

Ideal opportunities for P3 development will leverage CSULB’s real estate, customer base, state-backed resources, campus auxiliaries and enterprise programs, utility and infrastructure, and state-supported resources.

Anticipated project duration is November 2021 through December 2023.

The campus is working on a draft master plan that is projected to be complete fall 2021 and adopted by the CSU board of trustees in December 2022 after completion of the document’s Environmental Impact Report.

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will distribute more than $845 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to mitigate environmental impacts, increase accessibility, and expand capacity at 388 airports in 49 states.

Safety, capacity and jobs grants include:

Grants that will mitigate environmental impacts, include:

One project that will increase accessibility for remote communities is at Togiak Airport in Alaska where $12.1 million will help rebuild the airport’s runways and taxiways and replace equipment.

Watertown Regional Airport in South Dakota will receive a $9 million grant to reconstruct the existing terminal building to allow for the efficient movement of passengers and baggage. The terminal reconstruction includes upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements to enhance airport accessibility for disabled passengers.

The AIP receives approximately $3.2 billion in funding each year. The FAA plans to award more than 1,500 grants in 2021.

Oregon – A deadly record-breaking heat wave, wildfires, and power outages spurred the Oregon Legislature to pass HB 2021 to support renewable energy and resiliency projects by establishing a clean energy standard. The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.

The legislation appropriates $50 million to the Community Renewable Investment Fund for the Oregon Department of Energy to provide grants for eligible community renewable energy projects. Demand response measures as well as microgrids, storage systems, and other energy-related infrastructure qualify for funding as community-based renewable energy projects.

In addition, the measure requires certain retail electricity providers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold to Oregon consumers by 100 percent (80 percent by 2030, 90 percent by 2035, and 100 percent by 2040). As part of this requirement, each company needs to develop a plan to meet its targets and submit the plan to the Public Utility Commission.

North Carolina – Gov. Roy Cooper on July 1 announced the creation of a new Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, a first for North Carolina and the first in the nation.

The office is part of the newly created Division of Broadband and Digital Equity within the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT).

On May 19, Cooper announced his plan to invest $1.2 billion in American Recovery Plan funds to close the digital divide in North Carolina by 2025. NCDIT’s expanded Broadband and Digital Equity division will be charged with executing the governor’s plan, including spending $165 million on efforts to achieve digital equity and literacy for all North Carolinians.

The plan will connect 98 percent of North Carolina households to high-speed internet infrastructure, support 80 percent of North Carolina households’ subscriptions to affordable broadband service, and allow 100 percent of households with children to subscribe.

California – The city of South San Francisco released a request for information (RFI) seeking innovative solutions, including public-private partnerships (P3s), to deliver parking to its downtown core.

To serve a growing population, expanding city agencies, and burgeoning residential and commercial use, including the world’s largest biotech research-and-development cluster, the city issued the solicitation.

Through the RFI, the city is seeking information from individuals, firms, teams, or organizations that may be interested in designing, building, financing, operating, and/or maintaining the facilities being considered by the city.

The city wants to increase parking in the downtown with a modern facility, or facilities, that are futureproofed for technological advancements and evolving land use patterns. The resulting increase in parking should be approximately 228 spaces and focus on serving the commercial corridor along Grand Avenue.

Solutions should minimize financial risk to the city, relying on parking revenue and land value for the delivery of public assets to the maximum extent possible, while optimizing efficient operations and maintenance of public facilities. To achieve this, the city will consider tax credits, alternative funding, and financing.

In addition, the city has a need to replace and modernize the government office space housed in the Annex at 315 Maple Avenue, either on site or at an alternative location in the downtown core. This also could leverage underutilized land to deliver complementary commercial space and/or community-serving amenities such as an early childhood education facility to address a key need of the city.

July 16 is the deadline for RFI submissions and industry day forum registration. The forum is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT July 27 via videoconference.

Florida – The Jacksonville Airport Authority (JAA) is gauging vendor interest in showcasing their gate management and billing software to JAA.

In a request for interest (RFI), the authority outlined minimum requirements for a desired solution that features:

Statements of interest will be accepted until 2 p.m. local time July 15. After evaluation of the submissions, selected firms may be more closely considered through a presentation of their approach to perform the required services.

Pennsylvania – The state’s Public-Private Transportation Partnership Office is inviting the private sector to submit qualifications to compete for the opportunity to enter a progressive public-private partnership (P3) to administer the Major Bridge P3 Initiative.

Private partners would work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to design, build, finance, and maintain one or more bridge packages. Each package will include select bridges and associated infrastructure, including tolling infrastructure, gantry structures, and toll buildings for each bridge.

PennDOT’s transportation secretary said the initiative will quickly address and fully finance needed work on important interstate bridges and make work on other projects possible.

The department continues to evaluate and conduct public involvement and environmental reviews on the candidate bridges announced for consideration in February.

South Dakota – The Vermillion School District board of trustees called a special election for October 5 seeking voter approval to issue $26 million in bonds for the construction of a new elementary school.

In setting the election, trustees acted upon the district’s facility plan that calls for replacing the aging Jolley and Austin elementary schools with one new elementary campus that will link to the district’s middle school.

The project will allow the district to share middle school and elementary school staff between buildings, combine food service for the two schools, unify all elementary students, add a gym, and secure public entrances.

In addition, bond funding would allow the district to improve the middle school building by updating flex walls to solid walls and reducing noise.

If the election is successful, the district’s project timeline sets planning and final drawings for the building during winter of 2021, letting the project in spring 2022, and starting construction in late spring/summer 2022 with the building opening to students in fall or winter 2023.

Nebraska – The University of Nebraska welcomed Joanne Li as chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha on July 1. She succeeded Jeffrey Gold who accepted the role of executive vice president and provost of the University of Nebraska system. Li most recently served as dean of the College of Business at Florida International University. Before that, she was dean of the College of Business at Wright State University. 

Kentucky – The Paducah Board of Commissioners appointed Daron Jordan as Paducah’s new city manager, effective August 1. He will succeed City Manager Jim Arndt who is leaving to be closer to his family in Illinois. Jordan is currently the city manager of Paris, Kentucky. Before that, he held positions with the cities of Madisonville and Henderson. 

Massachusetts – Harvard University appointed Klara Jelinkova as chief information officer (CIO), effective September 13. She will succeed Anne Margulies who retired in May. Jelinkova most recently served as vice president for international operations and information technology at Rice University. Before that, she was CIO and senior associate vice president at the University of Chicago. 

Oregon – The Coos County Airport District named Mihai Smighelschi as deputy director for the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. Most recently, Smighelschi was director of revenue and properties with Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, McGhee Tyson Airport. He has experience as a stockbroker, financial adviser, and certified financial planner.

Oklahoma – The Muskogee City-County Port Authority selected Kimbra Scott as the port’s new director. She succeeded Scott Robinson who will retire on December 31. Scott most recently served as the port’s deputy director. Before that, she was director of campus operations at Northeastern State University. 

Maine – Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit named Chad Heid as its new executive director, effective July 21. He will succeed Tony Scavuzzo who accepted a position in project management. Heid most recently served as manager of service planning for the Capital District Transit Authority in New York.

Mary Scott Nabers, Publisher

Devin Monk, Editor

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state, and local government news and contracting opportunities.