Expert Insights
Expert Insights
As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., Mary Scott Nabers has decades of experience working in the public-private sector. A well-recognized expert in the P3 and government contracting fields, she is often asked to share her industry insights with top publications and through professional speaking engagements. Get an exclusive look at upcoming trends and insider tips from Mary herself on the SPI blog.
U.S. cities are reshaping venues to attract the next big events
Many city leaders throughout the U.S. are advancing expansions or major overhauls of their convention centers as competition for large events intensifies and cities chase visitor spending. Notable examples include Houston, where a $2 billion convention-district plan...
Insights and guidance shared by former public officials
Here’s a bit of advice for government contracting companies from a team of former government executives. The issues covered and the questions answered are ones that the Strategic Partnerships Team is asked about often – even by experienced sales execs. I’m sharing...
A trend to watch – one gaining strength and expected to grow even stronger
Across America, state and local leaders are reimagining how public spaces can serve growing populations, balancing recreation, sustainability, and economic development. From state parks and community sports complexes to multimillion-dollar urban redevelopments,...
These upcoming projects will call for multiple contracting services
Public officials throughout the U.S. are carefully watching to see what happens when Congress resumes its work after the summer break. All eyes will be on the necessary passage of the 2026 budget bill, which has not yet been adopted even though the federal...
A new era in federal procurement has launched
Federal procurement is getting a major makeover. Big changes have occurred, and more are on the horizon. Companies that sell into the federal marketplace definitely need to carefully monitor what is happening. A couple of months ago, the General Services...
Nearly $2 billion in funding available but very little time to apply
If you blinked, took a short summer vacation or shifted your focus to another task, you may have missed the announcement that approximately $2 billion in federal funding was just made available. Here’s hoping you didn’t miss the initial announcement because the...
May bond approvals drive planning surge for billions in upcoming projects
Because the company I lead does extensive research to monitor and provide data related to bond elections in all 50 states, I am shocked to see how many billions in funding are allocated through bond elections annually for upcoming projects. In Texas alone, bond...
New directives, rules, guidelines, and expectations are surfacing in the U.S. government marketplace
Things are changing rapidly at the federal level of government from the acceptance of new project delivery models to the consolidation of federal procurement. Here are a few examples and as much as we would all like to proclaim that these actions allow us a glimpse of...
Billions in recently approved funding should not be missed
U.S. bond elections each year routinely involve hundreds of billions of dollars in proposed funding, and approximately 80% of the funding receives voter approval nationwide. The bond funding is used for major capital projects and initiatives such as school...
Mental healthcare needs are driving immediate upgrades to U.S. healthcare infrastructure
There are many reasons why the historic effort to improve healthcare infrastructure in America has created a sweeping trend throughout the nation. Somewhat shocking is that it is driven primarily by the high demand for more mental health facilities. It is almost...
Climate change and weather events create great need for sustainability projects
Although the federal government’s fiscal year 2025 ends in September, Congress has not enacted a 2026 budget. Federal agencies are operating under a ‘continuing resolution’ that provides funding for 2025 and the uncertainty of funding for 2026 makes planning very...
Projects continue to be abundant despite massive funding cuts for educational institutions
Education funding, previously available to communities and every state for decades, has been drastically reduced. Last month, the White House released a budget that includes educational reductions of more than $4.5 billion in funding for K-12 schools. The overall...
Government contracting is evolving rapidly with new mandates and technological innovations
Public officials throughout the U.S. are seeking leading edge technology and innovative solutions as essential components of planned projects are developed. Government adoption of artificial intelligence and automation is gaining acceptance quicker than was ever...
AI Integration Accelerates Across Public Sector Projects
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is invading our lives, businesses, government, and personal space. It is no longer an emerging technology, it’s the fastest-moving transformation engine our society has ever seen. The technology is moving at a pace that defies prediction....
Big Beautiful Bill Signals Big Changes for State and Local Governments
For decades the Strategic Partnerships Team (SPI) has advised companies conducting business in the U.S. government marketplace. Many of our consultants are former government executives and because we provide services throughout the U.S., we closely monitor...
School construction projects boom as education systems address aging facilities and growth
Construction opportunities are almost always abundant, but currently there are more than usual construction projects being launched for public school campuses. Common objectives include major renovation or expansion of aging facilities, total replacement of...
Electrification projects are moving quickly through planning and design stages nationwide
There was speculation and genuine concern in recent months that funding support for electrification projects might be significantly reduced in 2025 and 2026. However, there is no evidence of that being the case and the continuance of funding for electrification...
Renewable Energy Projects Surge at State & Local Levels
For those who worry that renewable energy projects could decline in number over the next several years, there is good news. There are no signs of a slowdown anywhere in the U.S. and in fact, it appears the opposite may be true. Numerous large renewable energy projects...
A New Era of Airport Innovation and Opportunity
As airports around the world launch terminal expansions, air mobility projects, and new conveniences for passengers, U.S. airports face mounting pressure to meet increasingly elevated expectations. U.S. airports are responding by investing in a wave of modernization...
Tourism-Fueled Events Offer Billions in Economic Impact for U.S. Cities
Recently released data shows that travel and tourism contributed approximately $2.6 trillion to the U.S. economy last year. It also created millions of jobs. While that fact may not be surprising, it is less known that tourism also accounts for billions annually in...
Public funding scarcity for critical projects will result in new models of collaborative financing
Several noteworthy trends will lead to significant changes in how states and local governments address critical infrastructure needs in fiscal year 2026. Analysis of legislative actions, published budgets, and documented critical infrastructure needs throughout...
A quick look at new state funding allocations for 2025 and 2026
The Strategic Partnerships Team has extremely good researchers, and it is always interesting to see what they can produce when I ask them to brief me on something. This week I wanted to know if there were commonalities in funding allocations resulting from state...
A Fast-growing Trend May Have Great Impact on Government Procurement
Just hours ago, the Trump Administration asked Congress to claw back $9.4 billion in funding that had already been approved. The requested cuts are primarily a result of recommendations made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) a program led, until...
Water Infrastructure Upgrades Create New Wave of Contracting Opportunities
Water infrastructure and water purity are a top focus for government leaders throughout America. Across the country, cities and counties are investing in large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades to modernize systems, comply with tightening...
Trump’s proposed 2026 budget offers insight into more change
Everything happens quickly at the federal level of government these days. It has become common to have numerous executive orders announced every few days. So, it seems fitting to look at what has changed, what is likely to change and what may be required in the coming...
Research and tech take center stage in upcoming public investments
Across the country, public agencies and academic institutions are launching ambitious infrastructure initiatives that prioritize cutting-edge research, innovative technologies and public health advancements. From quantum computing hubs and cybersecurity research...
Billion-dollar Airport Projects Set to Transform U.S. Air Travel
Airports represent another industry sector that should not be impacted significantly by any federal funding support shrinkage. The critical nature of airport infrastructure, the immediate and obvious needs and the role air transportation plays in America’s economic...
Education infrastructure projects surge across the nation
Throughout the U.S., projects to upgrade, modernize and stabilize basic infrastructure will launch over the next several years. The infrastructure needs are critical, and public officials are committed to meeting the challenge of protecting public assets and providing...
Transportation upgrades offer multimillion-dollar projects
Transportation infrastructure projects, especially related to bridge work, continue to roll through pre-construction phases throughout the country. Bridge replacement projects carry extremely high price tags, and although bridge upgrade projects tend to be somewhat...
Utility upgrades create multibillion-dollar vendor marketplace
Energy, electricity and power are often used interchangeably in conversations, but while they are related, each is a distinct component. Energy is best described as the capacity to do work. Electricity is a type of energy generated by the movement of electrons, and...
A source of funding support not to be overlooked during uncertain times
As federal funding programs are being canceled or put on hold, there is one program that has remained untouched. The State Small Credit Business Initiative has funding available for local governments to develop credit support and investment programs tailored to their...
Sharing some wisdom about successfully selling to government
The Strategic Partnerships (SPI) firm turned 30 this year. That is shocking especially to me since I remember the company’s birth as if it were yesterday. The job I hold has been one of the most enjoyable experiences ever... and I’m not sure I’ll ever quit since I...
New campus stadiums evolve beyond sports into community assets
New campus planning documents reveal an abundance of high interest in new stadiums, or renovations and repurposing projects for existing facilities. Many universities, in fact, are developing campus complexes with new stadiums as a draw for retail, hotels and student...
Contracting landscape grows as community projects are launched
There’s growing evidence that new state and local government projects remain plentiful across the U.S. Driving this surge in upcoming contracting opportunities are economic development efforts, law enforcement needs and upgrades to all types of public facilities....
Funding support for public projects is showing no slowdown
Governmental entities are stressed... there is no doubt about that! Ongoing changes under the Trump administration are creating heightened uncertainty, placing added pressure on both public officials across all levels of government and private sector leaders...
Many new projects related to health care will launch in 2025 and 2026
Hospitals and specialized health care services in rural areas and small towns have been declining for many years, and that has become a serious concern. Financial stress is the primary reason for the decline. The federal government has provided financial support for...
America confronts urgent water infrastructure needs
The focus on water is extreme in almost every state in America. That’s because there are dozens of water infrastructure projects that simply must be addressed. The most critical issues tend to be water resources, aging water treatment plants, flood control, aging dam...
New contracting opportunities emerge as communities invest in public spaces
At a time of concern about whether federal funding will impact government contracting opportunities, new opportunities are being announced weekly by public officials at the state and local levels of government. And while libraries might have felt threatened, many are...
Hundreds of America’s cities have community-based projects about to launch… no slowdown in sight!
Amid concern about federal funding programs, cities throughout the U.S. are launching community-based projects to enhance citizen services, attract tourism and build community assets. These types of initiatives will continue to provide an abundance of collaborative...
Population growth, weather events and public safety needs are creating great demand for public safety construction
With so many changes announced daily at the federal level of government, inquiries continue to come in from people asking what government contractors should expect. My answer is always the same. While there are few guarantees in life about anything, the one area I am...