Delivering innovative infrastructure in America’s cities.

At long last, Infrastructure Week has arrived for America’s cities. As federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is released, mayors have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in transformative infrastructure, from equitable broadband to sustainable energy.

To explore best practices at this pivotal moment, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP) and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) recently convened some of the country’s most forward-looking mayors in Washington, DC as part of USCM’s 90th Winter Meeting. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia discussed Delivering Innovative Infrastructure in America’s Cities. Hosted by SIP and led by David Gilford, SIP’s Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, this forum brought together more than 200 mayors, high-level White House and Administration officials, Congressional leaders, and other policy and thought leaders in Washington and beyond.

Mayors shared and debated best practices in infrastructure delivery, including equity and inclusion, navigating jurisdictional boundaries, and engaging the private sector to find innovative solutions. Among the highlights of mayors’ recommendations:

Prioritize Equity & Inclusion: Mayors appreciate that equity must be at the center of infrastructure projects, from conception to implementation. In advocating for a particular project, leaders should identify and highlight tangible community outcomes, including second-order effects. Mayor Adler of Austin offered an example: While investing in public transportation increases property values, not all communities automatically benefit. Without anti-displacement measures, “as soon as you announce the project, their property values go up so high that they can't afford to be able to be the beneficiaries of the project.” Mayor Hancock of Denver noted that “transformative, game-changing” policy should build wealth in “underserved, often overlooked communities.” He highlighted a mayors-led pledge to increase the share of infrastructure dollars going toward women- and minority-owned businesses, stating that “it will be a shame if we do not allow equity to be our guiding star.”

Collaborate to Maximize Current & Future Federal Funding: Many participants felt that the status quo mechanism of getting funding from the federal government is “broken.” While mayors applauded the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act for providing funding directly to many cities, smaller jurisdictions generally had to rely on states and counties for funds. Even for larger cities, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs the bulk of its funding to states and counties, making cross-jurisdictional collaboration important to securing funds. As Congress considers the Build Back Better Act and future legislation, mayors echoed the sentiments expressed by Mayor Garcia of Long Beach, who argued that “direct funding should go to all cities in my opinion, regardless of size.” Today, however, cities often don’t realize what funding already exists, and thus cities leverage outside experts and develop internal teams to make the most of the funding on offer. As Mayor Garcia put it, “the best investment a city right now can make is to have at least one expert — regardless of the size of your city — that understands where all the pots of money are, where they're hidden.”

Foster More Innovative Private/Public Collaborations: Cities want the private sector to go beyond just bidding for projects. Too often companies show up looking for a contract without understanding local dynamics. The private sector has an opportunity to be a true partner to the public sector, joining them in understanding community perspectives and core needs. Local businesses can play a significant role as both users and funders of new infrastructure. As Mayor Bliss of Grand Rapids noted, cross-sector problem solving is “part of the work that we do every day,” sharing her experience partnering with a local brewery to build a biodigester for wastewater treatment. The project had both economic and sustainability impacts, reducing costs while creating a sustainable fuel source for the city’s buses.

As Mayor Hancock explained, private sector collaboration “is the next rung on the ladder in terms of opportunities for cities in the space of infrastructure.” As the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law moves towards implementation, new approaches to equitable and innovative delivery are essential.

This opportunity is at the heart of the Innovative Infrastructure Initiative (I³), a collaborative effort of technologists, investors, policymakers, academics, and other cross-sector leaders to champion and accelerate transformative infrastructure projects. In the coming months, SIP and I³ plan to continue the conversation through events on federal infrastructure funding.

Pictured (left to right): Mayor Michael Hancock of Denver, CO; Mayor Rosalynn Bliss of Grand Rapids, MI; David Gilford of Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP); Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach, CA; Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, TX; and Catherine Benz-Jackson of SIP. keepAspectRatio