John Hennessy III,
P.E.
Seven months after hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked catastrophic damages in parts of Texas and Florida, leaving $175 billion in damages in their wake, help is on the way. Much-needed federal disaster relief dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should reach public officials in Gulf Coast counties by the end of this month.
View this complete post...“Innovation” could be municipal government’s middle name. When it comes to creativity and resourcefulness – city leaders take a backseat to no one. Local public officials don’t have the luxury of living on the periphery of problems. Instead, they live in the middle of every issue on a daily basis. They, unlike state and federal officials, are easily accessible. Perhaps that’s what has caused them to be innovative and creative in finding remedies and solutions. Or, perhaps these traits are a result of dealing with the largest problem of all – inadequate funding. Whatever the reason, municipal leaders have become known for out-of-the box thinking, innovative problem solving and visionary collaboration.
View this complete post...
Now that the Trump infrastructure plan has been released, the question is, “Will it hold water?” That’s a question of high interest to people who deal with water issues on a daily basis. City, county and state officials who need financial assistance for projects related to water resources and water systems had hoped for some sort of timely help from Congress. It appears, however, that no immediate assistance will be forthcoming. Despite bipartisan support for infrastructure reform, there is no consensus on how to get started.
View this complete post...Written by Mary Scott Nabers President and CEO, Strategic Partnerships Inc. President Trump released his Infrastructure Plan on Monday and to no surprise…it pleased almost no one…other than perhaps those who crafted it. Some have questioned whether the plan pleases anyone. The plan has been touted as a $1.5 trillion investment but there is actually […]
View this complete post...The expanded use and funding for Private Activity Bonds (PABs) has again taken over the spotlight in infrastructure debate in America. A six-page document claimed to be the draft outline for President Trump’s long-awaited national infrastructure plan was leaked this week and PABs are among the major infrastructure funding principles addressed.
View this complete post...Construction firms interested in new business opportunities need only to look at where the disasters occurred in 2017. But successful bidders will be companies that understand the importance of offering construction services with built-in resiliency. That’s the value proposition public officials are seeking in today’s marketplace.
View this complete post...Public officials in states that have been cash-strapped for the last number of years have already exhausted internal creativity and innovation. There are just so many ways to do “more with less” and most say they have no new ideas left. In states that enacted fee and tax increases, the total net result was only $9.9 billion in additional revenue. Now lawmakers and budget gurus must explore alternative funding options. That’s because some projects and budget items simply cannot be overlooked, decreased or eliminated.
View this complete post...The House bill eliminates Private Activity Bonds (PABs) and Low-income Tax Credits, which are critical to the construction of housing developments. Both bills call for eliminating advanced refinancing bonds. These tax-exempt bonds allow cities to refinance debt. Without advance refinancing bonds, many large projects at the state and local levels of government will be immediately jeopardized. Additionally, the tax reform bill, unless changed, increases the federal deficit and that will trigger $150 billion in automatic cuts to vital transportation and infrastructure investments.
View this complete post...Many large cities have been so successful in revitalizing downtown areas, it’s now extremely difficult to find parking, to secure restaurant reservations or lease retail space. People wait for years to lease condos in revitalized urban areas and real estate prices have increased significantly. In far too many other American cities, however, downtown areas are anything but vibrant. Some are eyesores because of vacated buildings and a few almost feel like ghost towns. When cities languish, municipal revenues become strained and the downward spiral escalates even more quickly.
View this complete post...When the Hurricane Harvey federal disaster relief funding spigot finally opens in Washington, D.C., Texas cities and counties with recovery projects – some of which will be mega-million dollar projects – are hopeful their projects will be among those funded. And when the funding starts flowing, contracting opportunities will be abundant. Private-sector firms throughout the country willing to bring their experience and resources to the Texas Gulf Coast will be called on to contract with public-sector entities to help with the rebuilding of Texas.
View this complete post...    |
Follow InfrastructureUSA
Video, stills and tales. Share images of the Infra in your community that demands attention. Post your ideas about national Infra issues. Go ahead. Show Us Your Infra! Upload and instantly share your message.
Is the administration moving fast enough on Infra issues? Are Americans prepared to pay more taxes for repairs? Should job creation be the guiding determination? Vote now!
What do the experts think? This is where the nation's public policy organizations, trade associations and think tanks weigh in with analysis on Infra issues. Tell them what you think. Ask questions. Share a different view.
The Infra Blog offers cutting edge perspective on a broad spectrum of Infra topics. Frequent updates and provocative posts highlight hot button topics -- essential ingredients of a national Infra dialogue.
It is encouraging to finally see clear signs of federal action to support a comprehensive US infrastructure investment plan.
Now more than ever, our advocacy is needed to keep stakeholders informed and connected, and to hold politicians to their promises to finally fix our nation’s ailing infrastructure.
We have already engaged nearly 280,000 users, and hoping to add many more as interest continues to grow.
We require your support in order to rise to this occasion, to make the most of this opportunity. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to InfrastructureUSA.org.
Steve Anderson
Managing Director
SteveAnderson@InfrastructureUSA.org
917-940-7125
RSS Feed
© InfrastructureUSA | Terms of Use | Site developed by Andigo New Media
InfrastructureUSA.org is a nonprofit project fiscally sponsored by FJC, a Foundation of Philanthropic Funds.