https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Four tips for municipalities and agencies as they position infrastructure projects for federal funding

Four tips for municipalities and agencies as they position infrastructure projects for federal funding

Attorney Fred Springer explains how local governments can best position their infrastructure projects for President Trump's infrastructure investments.
  • Written by contributor
  • 2nd May 2017

By Fred Springer

A massive federal investment in infrastructure is high on President Trump’s to-do list for 2017. Around the country, municipalities and government agencies are considering how to get in on what could be as much as $1 trillion in spending.

With this in mind, here are four things to think about as you consider possible projects for this potential federal funding:
 

1) Start developing well-conceived project plans now that connect to the Trump administration’s interests, such as job creation and manufacturing.

Certainly, projects related to roads and water will always be of interest to the federal government. But also think about technology, a key driver for creating jobs.

While the “green economy” was a priority of the Obama administration, it seems clear that the Trump administration will emphasize helping people from traditional manufacturing industries who have lost their jobs and are now underemployed.

2) Focus on projects where there is a clear community need.

Consider how the federal government will be able to defend your project as a worthy recipient of funding. The feds will look most kindly on projects that are supported by a wide range of stakeholders and will have visible, tangible results.

One example of this type of project is Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Fla. where the City turned an underutilized downtown site into something that benefits the community as a whole. According to the DiscoverCascades.com website, the City worked with the State of Florida to transform a former industrial site into a public park with features that contain and move stormwater in attractive ways.

The park attracts runners, walkers and community events, while a pedestrian bridge project connects to improvements benefiting nearby Florida A&M and Florida State.

3) Make sure you have a sound project that stands on its own merits.

Look for projects that have a champion, are connected to federal interests and/or have the potential for an early return on investment.

A plan needs to include well-thought-out ROI, and needs to show how the government won’t be responsible for success in the long term. Also, the feds may be more interested in enhancing private investment rather than underwriting a project completely.

4) Don’t ignore traditional infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges.

Such projects are always popular with the federal government, but often require innovative funding strategies. As an example, as reported in the Tallahassee Democrat, the new Orchard Pond Greenway toll road north of Tallahassee involved up-front private money combined with a $13.5 million loan from the Florida Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure Bank.

The overarching message from these tips is this: Planning ahead is critical, because slapping together project proposals after federal initiatives take shape won’t work.

Federal officials will be considering hundreds of projects, and sometimes local officials wonder if they should spend time establishing relationships with people who will be in on decision-making. In our experience, having these relationships are helpful in many ways, but won’t be the difference in getting funding for projects.

Instead, focus on planning ahead and understanding what puts a project at the top of the stack. This is what will pay off in the long term.
 

Fred Springer, a Florida-based attorney at the Bryant Miller Olive law firm, has worked at high levels in both government and private practice, and has extensive experience in all stages of public projects, from planning, financing and procurement to delivery and, if needed, litigation. He can be reached at [email protected].

 

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on YouTube

Tags: Public Works & Utilities Commentaries Commentary

Most Recent


  • Amid an unprecedented increase in federal spending, cities and counties stand to benefit from partnerships
    The so-called “American dream” of upward mobility has more or less stagnated: Today, a little more than 40 percent of children raised at the bottom of the income ladder remain there as adults, according to Pew Charitable Trusts, and only half grow up to earn more than their parents. This data points to a concerning […]
  • Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative adds 15 new cities to program
    Researchers have correlated access to nature with positive impacts like lower stress and anxiety, leading to higher academic achievement, increased emotional learning, stronger social connections, better self esteem, and a greater sense of environmental stewardship. But in today’s built environment, where concrete and brick dominate landscapes, nature is often a car drive or train ride away—and […]
  • urban placemaking
    Making urban placemaking equitable through collaboration
    What makes a city a city? Ask 10 people, and you’ll likely receive 10 different answers: the community, the buildings, the culture, the restaurants. But one element that has an outsized impact on a city’s character—yet is often overlooked—is urban placemaking. Urban placemaking is an overarching approach and a set of hands-on strategies that center […]
  • Historic infrastructure investment presents opportunity to improve roadway safety
    Two years ago, the pandemic changed everything—remote work became normalized; the popularity of delivery services went through the roof; roadway deaths spiked with fewer commuters and wide-open highways. They haven’t come down. “The reality in America right now is that no matter the size of your community or whether it is urban, suburban or rural, […]

Related Content

  • How local governments can improve bridge projects through strategic engagement
  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How local governments can get ahead of the infrastructure wave: Strategies to mitigate risk
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Take American City & County’s budgeting survey dlvr.it/ST0qQP

28th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Six cities and counties will take stock of underutilized assets in Rethinking Revenue incubator dlvr.it/ST0ZVp

28th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Seamless Cooperative Experience Saves Indiana City Exponentially in Time and Money dlvr.it/SSxp95

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

10 best large cities for fishing dlvr.it/SSxbSZ

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Generational differences present an opportunity to reinvent public sector service delivery dlvr.it/SSxbN7

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Local and state governments are facing a retention crisis; the worst could be yet to come dlvr.it/SSnmS7

24th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Amid an unprecedented increase in federal spending, cities and counties stand to benefit from partnerships dlvr.it/SSkGBn

23rd June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Governments using technology to harness data and improve decision-making dlvr.it/SSk3H0

23rd June 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X