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.
Many state leaders not waiting for Congress to launch infrastructure reform
It’s impossible to know whether Congress will provide federal funding to stimulate infrastructure spending. Although members from both parties have strongly advocated for addressing the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, there is much disagreement about how much...
Move over, Smart Cities…you’ve got company!!
Snohomish County in the state of Washington is about to be the second county in the United States to become designated a Smart County. Durham County, in North Carolina, was the first. Municipal leaders cornered the market on being recognized as they launched...
Interested in rail projects? If so, here’s something of immediate interest!
An abundance of rail safety projects are about to be launched. That’s because commuter and intercity passenger railroads must meet a federally mandated December 2018 deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. And, it’s also because the federal...
Budget woes create even greater need for transportation collaboration
Hand-wringing and soul-searching are an integral part of budget decisions being made by government officials. Across the U.S., 31 states faced budget shortfalls at the beginning of 2017. Legislators in Texas last weekend sent a budget bill to the governor that...
Holdup of FTA investment program funds could threaten transit projects
A letter was sent recently to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging the administration to release of $2.4 billion in funds for transit projects. The funds were previously allocated by the Federal Transit...
President Trump’s proposed budget speaks volumes about his infrastructure vision
President Trump’s proposed federal budget for 2018 is causing heartburn for many members of Congress. That’s because it lays out at least $1 trillion in cuts from welfare programs. In spite of that, the budget plan includes some interesting provisions related to...
Cities and counties – large new marketplace for public safety technology
We live in a world where, unfortunately, disasters have become a way of life. We watch weekly as first responders and emergency personnel race to all kinds of emergencies. In those moments, we are reminded of how critical it is to have good emergency communication...
‘No silver bullet … just a lot of silver BBs’
The $1 trillion Trump-promised federal infrastructure plan is back on the front burner and heating up – again. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao this week predicted that “principles” of the plan, which the president says will leverage $200 billion in federal...
Lots of opportunities here…
Who doesn’t love a great sports event? Large crowds, jubilant fans, media coverage, economic opportunities for lots of stakeholders - public officials and the public at large all find much to like!! As a result, universities, school districts and municipalities are...
What are we doing to our state parks?
Strange things can happen during legislative budget negotiations. As bizarre as it sounds, when legislators begin cutting budgets even agencies that are major drivers of the economy are sometimes the first to suffer. That has been the plight of state parks throughout...
Another large, expanding marketplace for government contractors
Government contractors usually want to know when and where new markets are emerging. So, here’s a tip – watch what’s happening across the country in the area of public safety projects. Construction, engineering and architectural firms will find an abundance of...
Moving people and freight at 800 miles an hour? Really?
High-speed trains, carrying both freight and passengers, now speed along at up to 200 miles per hour in China. Computer-operated electric pod cars travel on tracks at West Virginia University, carrying up to 20 passengers at a time across campus. Singapore claims to...
RFI Signals Growing Interest in Water Public-Private Partnerships
Multiple Public-Private Partnerships a Probability in Infrastructure Plan The low-level buzz surrounding the $1 trillion Trump administration infrastructure plan is starting to swirl again, and private-sector firms interested in participating in water public-private...
Government contractors will want to watch this trend carefully!
A bank located in the Northeast has drawn the attention of state officials nationwide. The three-year-old bank, however, is not your typical loans, checking account and cash services bank. In the aftermath of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, the second-costliest hurricane in...