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.
A government trend to watch: The rise of integrated civic campuses
Many local government officials are rethinking how they deliver public services. Rather than maintaining separate buildings for individual departments, many cities are investing in integrated municipal campuses and multi-purpose civic complexes that bring related...
Healthcare investments are transforming communities across America
The nation's healthcare construction market continues to expand and one of very significant trends is where many of the opportunities are occurring. While large metropolitan medical centers continue to launch billion-dollar research and specialty facilities, a growing...
Budget decisions are shaping America’s future
The Strategic Partnerships team monitors legislative and funding activity in all 50 states and at the federal level. That’s because we now provide services in so many states. We pay particularly close attention to legislative sessions because funding decisions reveal...
Billions flow into water treatment plant modernization projects
Water treatment facilities have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the public infrastructure marketplace as communities across America confront decades of deferred maintenance, increasingly stringent water-quality standards, population growth, and emerging...
Grid modernizations fuel new wave of energy storage projects
Battery energy storage has quickly become one of the fastest-growing segments of the nation's energy infrastructure market. Rapid population growth, expanding data center development, electrification, renewable energy integration, and increasing concerns about grid...
Private capital meets government reality
Because I, and the rest of the Strategic Partnerships team, spend every day working at a unique vantage point – the intersection of public and private sector connections – we see trends, issues, risks, and problems arising often before anything is obvious to most...
America faces a new infrastructure funding reality
America's public funding landscape is changing rapidly. As Congress continues to make appropriations decisions, federal agencies revise grant programs, and states finalize budgets for the coming fiscal year, one trend has become increasingly clear. State and local...
Multimillion-dollar library projects are reshaping communities throughout America
Public officials throughout the U.S. are investing in the next generation of libraries. The new facilities look very different from those built only a few decades ago. While books and research materials remain central to the mission, today's libraries are increasingly...
Port authorities are accelerating marine infrastructure upgrades nationwide
Port infrastructure investment is accelerating across the United States as governmental agencies respond to record cargo volumes, larger vessels, supply chain resiliency concerns, and the nation’s decades-old waterfront infrastructure. America's ports support more...
The competitive advantage in government contracting has shifted
Selling into the government marketplace has changed dramatically over the past several years, and the pace of change continues to accelerate. While many of the most significant changes have occurred at the federal level, state, and local governments are also adapting...
Flood mitigation spending surges as communities prepare for future storms
Flood mitigation and stormwater infrastructure projects continue to emerge as one of the strongest segments of the public infrastructure marketplace. The trend is being driven by increasingly costly flood events, aging drainage systems, more intense rainfall patterns,...
Another budget crisis in America could be looming
It may not be immediately obvious to all citizens, but a post-pandemic local budget reckoning has arrived. It is important to understand what has happened and what is continuing to happen because it is already affecting all Americans. Federal...
America’s water infrastructure reckoning has arrived
For too long, America’s water infrastructure has not received the attention that was prudent. Perhaps that is because, although it is one of America’s most essential public assets, this type of infrastructure isn’t surface level. The country’s water and wastewater...
A new community-centered bargain is emerging around data center growth
For more than a decade, states and local governments nationwide competed aggressively to attract new data center developments. The pitch was simple: billions of dollars in private investment, new jobs, and a growing tax base. State leaders touted them as engines of...
Rural America is emerging as a new hotspot for major infrastructure projects
Large metropolitan areas often capture the spotlight when it comes to contracting with governmental entities, but many of the most significant public infrastructure investments are now taking shape in rural America. Federal funding programs, state capital initiatives,...
America’s bridge replacement boom creates billions in infrastructure opportunities
America's bridge infrastructure is receiving unprecedented attention as federal, state and local officials confront decades of deferred maintenance and escalating transportation demands. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's latest...
Data centers and the new public works debate in America
Data centers are not a new novelty. They have been with us for decades. But for most of that time, they were invisible infrastructure. They sat behind fences, cooled by enormous mechanical systems, powering the cloud, online commerce, streaming, banking, logistics,...
Renewal efforts are transforming public assets across the U.S.
Public officials throughout America are advancing an unprecedented wave of modernization and preservation initiatives focused on aging civic infrastructure and historic public assets. Deferred maintenance challenges, growing accessibility requirements, and increasing...
Collaboration Nation… and a new initiative the Strategic Partnerships Team is launching
America has faced defining infrastructure moments before. Decades ago, public officials and private sector innovators worked together to build the interstate highway system, modern airports, water systems, power networks, ports, and public facilities that fueled the...
New sportsplexes and recreation centers are reshaping communities nationwide
Communities throughout America are investing heavily in recreation infrastructure as demands for year-round wellness, sports tourism, and family-oriented amenities continue to rise. Industry analysts estimate that youth and amateur sports generate more than $50...
If you are affiliated with a company that sells to government… this note is for you!
The SPI Team is in awe of something we want to share. It seems only fitting to share it with our long-time newsletter subscribers. Many of you have been loyal subscribers for more than two decades, so we now consider you to be part of our extended family. About two...
Emergency response infrastructure enters new era nationwide
Rising population growth, urban density, climate-related disasters, and increasing demands on emergency response systems are driving significant investments in fire and public safety infrastructure across the U.S. Communities are no longer focused solely on replacing...
America’s airports prepare for a new era of expansion and modernization
America’s airports are entering a new era of expansion and modernization as passenger demand, aging infrastructure, security requirements, and economic growth continue to drive major capital investment nationwide. From large international hubs to growing regional...
Federal procurement rules are changing, and it’ll be wise to monitor how they evolve
Something significant occurred very recently and it is not only noteworthy, it represents a major shift that should be monitored carefully by both government officials and private sector contractors. President Trump’s new Executive Order related to future federal...
Government at a Crossroads: Funding, uncertainty reshape America’s infrastructure outlook
Americans are experiencing what history will surely characterize as changing, somewhat chaotic, and genuinely uncertain times. Business leaders are cautious, and competition is fierce. Public sector leaders at every jurisdictional level of government entered 2026...
States ramp up healthcare modernization with major investments in labs, hospitals and behavioral health
Healthcare modernization projects across the U.S. are accelerating as public agencies respond to aging infrastructure, workforce constraints, and rising demand for behavioral health and advanced diagnostics. Recent data and industry reporting point to several...
The Quiet Revolution: Building the future from the ground up
Big changes and big needs are emerging so quickly. It seems appropriate to pause and consider some of the monumental issues facing public officials and government at large. The country has entered an era where infrastructure is no longer just roads, bridges, and...
America’s aging water systems trigger a surge in billion-dollar fixes
Investments in wastewater and water treatment infrastructure across the United States are accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Federal data from the EPA indicates that more than $630 billion in water infrastructure improvements will be needed over the next two...
Something new has happened at Strategic Partnerships!
The SPI Team and I are hoping that our newsletter friends will be as pleased as we are about a very special announcement we can finally make. We are ready to introduce our much-awaited RAPID RESEARCH ENGINE. Our formal marketing campaign will begin next week, but we...
Transit hubs emerge as catalysts for growth and development
A new generation of transit projects is reshaping how public transportation is structured to improve community connections. Across the United States, public agencies are advancing multimodal hubs that do more than move passengers, they anchor development, improve...
Play, Gather, Thrive: Cities double down on recreation investments
Local government officials across America regularly maintain and preserve public assets, while also investing in the development of new ones. Currently, municipal leaders nationwide are making significant investments in recreational infrastructure, reflecting a...
Universities continue to launch multimillion-dollar campus transformations
Colleges and universities are gaining high visibility as announcements are made about plans to launch all types of visionary projects, most of which are far beyond traditional campus upgrades. From large-scale athletic complexes to mixed-use districts and community...
Public library projects expand nationwide as communities invest in modernization
Public libraries in many cities and counties are undergoing a significant transformation, evolving far beyond their traditional roles as repositories for books. Today’s library projects reflect a broader mission, one that emphasizes community engagement, digital...
Battery storage projects surge as grid reinforcement becomes a national priority
Battery storage and power system reinforcement are rapidly moving from long-term planning concepts to immediate infrastructure priorities across the United States. As extreme weather events, electrification demands, and renewable energy integration place new pressures...
Redevelopment projects still in planning phases create industry opportunities nationwide
City officials throughout the U.S. are advancing ambitious redevelopment initiatives designed to stimulate economic growth, strengthen infrastructure, and enhance quality of life for citizens. These large-scale projects incorporate a growing trend among local...
Surging demand for student housing fuels major campus investment opportunities
University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary...
Big news to share… and, as always, upcoming opportunity alerts that are just in planning stages
Something new and exciting is coming very soon! Our newsletter subscribers will be the first to know… so watch carefully for next week’s newsletters – Government Contracting Pipeline and Texas Government Insider – you’ll be the first to hear this news! The SPI Team...
Civic campus projects drive downtown revitalization nationwide
Cities across the United States are increasingly launching large civic centers and municipal campus projects as part of broader efforts to reinvigorate downtown districts. Municipal leaders are replacing aging city halls and scattered municipal facilities with modern...
Infrastructure resiliency initiatives advance even as federal support slows
Resiliency and sustainability initiatives are driving a rapidly expanding pipeline of public infrastructure projects across the United States. Federal policy and funding support over the past several years accelerated many types of these large-scale infrastructure...
Transit-oriented development projects continue to reshape American cities
One federal funding program continues to support transit-oriented development (TOD) as a strategy to support encourage more ridership, expand housing options, and create more connected communities while generating economic vitality for cities. TODs focus on building...