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.
Federal programs are funding ‘rail to trail’ projects nationwide
Federal programs that have been significantly enhanced are now responsible for hundreds of new projects called ‘rail to trail’ initiatives throughout the U.S. Congress authorized billions of dollars to support multi-use trails and other kinds of non-motorized...
Billions in funding awarded to states to address ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
A recent study revealed some shocking facts. Researchers with Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, provided data that points to more than 200 million Americans who must depend on contaminated drinking water. Chemicals that are commonly used to treat...
More funding now flowing to U.S. ports for modernization projects
American ports, even those that are among the busiest in the world, have faced near-crippling levels of congestion since the outbreak of COVID. Supply chain back-ups have also had a negative impact. The smaller ports especially have scrambled to meet demand, but it is...
The launching of tourism projects in America is rampant
Public officials at the local levels of government are using recent increases in tax revenue to support tourism projects. State officials throughout the country are also launching new funding programs to increase economic development and lock in future economic...
Many federal funding programs have new mandated rules
The federal government is changing the rules for some very significant funding programs. Many of the changes relate to how federal agencies will distribute funding to state and local governments and the types of projects the funding will support. Rules emphasizing...
Smart technologies are in high demand when public officials have problems to solve
Over recent years, smart technologies that emphasize automation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and data monitoring have become critical components of infrastructure modernization projects. Public officials are doubling down on these types of...
Large amounts of funding now available for new and/or upgraded K-12 facilities
Enrollment data for K-12 school systems in the U.S. can fluctuate dramatically from year to year. Regardless of whether enrollment increases or decreases, the numbers point to demand changes and, more often than not, school officials must address growth...
Data provides insight into successful federal funding applications
Throughout the country, consortiums, partnerships and work groups are being formed to launch large critical projects. There’s a reason for the collaboration and it is noteworthy enough to point out what the data shows. Partnerships and regional consortiums accomplish...
New funding available now for workforce training facilities
America will continue to be a global economic leader only if the country maintains a skilled and trained future workforce. That critical component could cease to exist without continual monitoring and ongoing training initiatives. Fortunately, public officials at...
Cybersecurity concerns result in new funding programs ready to protect critical infrastructure in America
The federal government released a National Cybersecurity Strategy last week. It provides guidelines about how cybersecurity should be used to protect critical infrastructure in America. The strategy identifies five key objectives that are eligible for funding. The...
Government leaders are aggressively launching renewable and sustainable power projects
Many parts of the country have experienced catastrophic winter weather events in recent years. In Texas recent winter weather issues were exacerbated when over-taxed grid networks failed to perform. Grid failures are why some public officials are spending millions on...
Federal funding and tax incentives are available for affordable housing projects
According to data released in 2022, the U.S. currently faces a shortage of approximately 3.8 million homes. More recent projections suggest that number may now be even higher. To address this extremely critical issue, Congress authorized an abundance of funding and an...
Billions in opioid settlement funding now available to public officials for various types of projects
For years, state governments affected by the opioid epidemic were locked in intense litigation with pharmaceutical companies, some of which are the most powerful corporations in the world. The years of legal battles are now paying off and approximately $54 billion in...
It’s a perfect time for public officials to launch riverfront redevelopment projects and private sector partners are in high demand
Before environmental concerns became a staple of urban planning, industrial sites dominated waterfront properties in American cities. For decades, factories used urban waterways to dispose of pollutants. As environmental awareness grew, however, those sites were...
Upcoming library projects are front and center as cities and counties upgrade facilities throughout America
A 2019 study pointed to an interesting trend. The data provided very compelling insights into America’s libraries. It revealed that, as libraries digitize books, magazines and services, their reach and impact become significantly greater. The number of citizens using...
Hundreds of design-build projects are being launched to capture current available funding
Project delivery methods have been debated for years. Which one is best? Which is most efficient? Which reduces risk? Which delivers a project the quickest? Some argue that infrastructure projects are delivered faster and with greater cost-effectiveness when the...
Airport expansions and renovations in 2023 will be robust
Recent changes to federal funding programs are dramatically widening the scope of airport expansion plans throughout the U.S. In the fall of 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the availability of $1 billion during 2023 for airport expansion...
Technology purchases planned for upcoming public safety projects appear to be historic
Public safety is front and center with public officials today. Big changes are coming as historic amounts of federal funding pour into cities, counties, states and special purpose districts for projects to improve public safety that will be launched in 2023. One...
New funding and tax incentives are available to ensure the preservation of America’s historic properties
The federal government is using an interesting combination of well-funded grant programs and attractive tax incentives to ensure that America’s historical legacy is preserved. The plan is working… and hundreds of historical renovation and enhancement projects are in...
Public-Private Partnership (P3) delivery models will be prolific in 2023
Inflation fears linger, supply chain issues drag on, construction costs continue to rise… and those factors have created significant issues for public officials who were poised to launch new initiatives. Even bond packages that passed supporting local projects are now...
Protecting America’s water infrastructure – now a national priority with an abundance of funding
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rang in 2023 with a new program designed to provide funding for critical water infrastructure projects. Now, the EPA is providing loans to state financing authorities which are also known as state revolving fund programs....
The new year will usher in thousands of technology modernization projects in America
Last year, Congress allocated $1 billion in funding to support technology modernization projects. States, counties, cities and educational institutions are now receiving funding and $100 million flowed to modernization projects at the state and local levels of...
Many new public sector campuses and complexes will launch in 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Congress in 2022 allocated $1 billion for efficiency upgrades to state and local government buildings. The funding gave public officials new cause to examine the conditions of their public facilities, and many are...
New components and requirements for port projects in 2023 are obvious
The time has come to stop thinking about port projects in the same way we once did. Everything has changed and with an abundance of funding, port projects in 2023 will include many new components. Over the last several years, shifting economic and environmental...
A vibrant, well-funded new marketplace that should be monitored
A somewhat overlooked marketplace in years past is now one that should be monitored regularly. Billions of dollars in federal funding, designated specifically for tribal lands, are flowing to Native American communities throughout the U.S. and, projects of all sizes...
Hotel occupancy tax revenues will launch hundreds of new projects in 2023
In 30 states, the cost of booking a hotel room usually includes a specialized tax purposed for tourism. The revenue collected from hotel guests becomes available for state or local projects that enhance existing venues or deliver new tourist attractions. Sports...
Well-funded mobility projects in 2023 will include massive amounts of technology
Mobility is now a major focus of local infrastructure planning. It is a critical component of almost everything public officials want and need to accomplish. Many of the objectives cannot be accomplished, however, without the inclusion of new technology designed to...
Funding for remediation and redevelopment projects is abundantly available to public officials
It should be noted that both state and federal officials are funding projects to remedy environmental and safety issues that have persisted for many years. New funding will also recycle many public assets and make them revenue-producing in the future. Federal and...
Rural America will receive billions in funding for all types of infrastructure projects in 2023
America’s rural regions have never been as high a funding priority as the country’s urban areas. That’s understandable considering the population delta. However, that scenario is changing somewhat. Recent federal funding programs are reversing decades of neglect in...
Remember those 56,000 U.S. bridges that were classified as structurally unsound? They are about to be rebuilt!
Much of the initial attention from infrastructure funding was focused on broadband and electronic vehicle deployment. But now, other funding sources are getting lots of attention and bridge repair and replacement is occurring throughout the country. The bipartisan...
Technology infrastructure will be modernized and cybersecurity will be enhanced greatly in 2023
Earlier this month, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released its list of the top IT-related priorities for the upcoming year. The five strategies topping this year’s annual list are already visible in almost every state and local...
No funding issues for water infrastructure projects – options are more abundant than ever!
In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $6.5 billion for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. The funding is intended to incentivize private sector funding and the plan is to deliver a...
New energy efficiency rules will spur thousands of projects
Last week, the Administration announced that, by 2025, all new and recently renovated federal buildings will be required to reduce their energy consumption by 90%. These same facilities will also have to fully decarbonize. This will make energy efficiency measures...
Private sector support is in high demand to help launch projects for which funding is readily available
Currently, one of the most popular federal funding sources is a program that supports transportation alternatives. Many cities and counties are launching projects using this funding that has been allocated specifically for local governmental entities. The funding...
Thousands of upcoming healthcare opportunities are planned as a result of billions in federal funding
An abundance of federal funding was made available to health-related organizations at the outset of the COVID pandemic. There is no clear determination about whether that emergency funding will expire in early 2023 or not. Even if it does, billions more in funding...
A new, fast-moving trend that deserves immediate attention
Transit authorities throughout the country are quickly becoming big-time developers…and in more ways than one might have ever thought possible. Many citizens and contractors may not be aware of how large this trend has become…and how fast it is moving. The mixed-use...
America’s roadways are changing
Officials at every level of government are committed to making roadways safer for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The enthusiasm along with available funding is restructuring roadways throughout the country. Contracting firms of every type will be in high...
Ongoing economic vitality is the goal for hundreds of upcoming projects
Governing bodies throughout the country build event centers, meeting halls, and arenas each year, but currently there is an abundance of new projects of this type. These large projects require private sector contractors of all types making the demand for construction,...
Recent successful bond elections approve $37 billion in new funding
Earlier this month, voters in the U.S. responded to bond packages that amounted to $66 billion in total debt. More than half of the bond packages were approved and a combined $37 billion in municipal funding became available for a diverse array of projects. This...
America is upgrading its infrastructure and opportunities are abundant
Infrastructure funding is flowing, and the majority of regional connectivity projects involve numerous stakeholders and therefore demand intensive coordination. Under normal circumstances, these multi-jurisdictional projects would be difficult, if not impossible, to...