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There is a world of funding sources out there. But, everybody
wants a piece of the pie. Cities and counties sell t-shirts for extra
dollars or take their cause as far as Washington DC, hiring lobbyists to push
for federal earmarks. As always the question is how to get the most bang for
the buck, the highest return on investment. Spend too much time researching
grants and new revenue sources, and you’ll spend less time actually going
after what you really need. And, if securing dollars is only a portion of
your job responsibilities, then efficiency matters.
Asset and resource management softw,are is helping public
works directors and grant coordinators strategize on just where to focus
their sights.
In this edition, Around the Industry
surveyed public works departments on how they go about maximizing outside
dollars.
Lynn Timmons, a management assistant in the
Intergovernmental Programs Department in the City of Phoenix, Arizona, is
also in charge of grant coordination. Her department brings in over $136M a
year for the whole city. She says, “I always teach people not to just chase
dollars. Do your own strategic planning.”
She works with Traffic Engineering
Supervisor, Ray Dovalina Jr, PE who helps develop the city’s strategic plan,
a 5-year Capital Improvement Program. Phoenix uses a city-wide SAP program
combined with CitizenServe software to get the details on which needs rise
to the top.
Dovalina Jr. spoke at the American Public
Works Association International Congress and Exposition in San Antonio in
September of 2007. His presentation, on “How to Successfully Use Federal
Funding for Transportation Projects” outlines the steps Phoenix has used to
become very successful at focusing and garnering a large share of federal
dollars. He recommends the following strategies:
• Select a project that will
have the greatest benefit to the community
• Make sure that local community groups embrace the project
• Develop a sound Scope, Budget & Schedule
• Have political “backing” of the project
• Determine if there are major environmental considerations to
undertake
• Build a team approach to accomplishing the grant application
• Develop a great & professional grant application
• Finally – “Do your homework” before submitting
Once the homework is done and improvement
projects are prioritized, the next step is looking for the loot in the right
treasure chests. Timmons uses
Randalocator to stay abreast of what’s out
there, but also suggests www.grants.gov or
e-Civis. Obviously a good
relationship with your area’s representatives in the state capitol and
Washington DC can reap large rewards. “But” Timmons says, “people should
always have their ear to the ground in their own networks also.”
In fact, she says there’s a growing source of
funds coming from private sources like foundations and corporate
sponsorships; think “Chase” Field, where the Arizona Diamondbacks play.
Donald Roecker PE, an Independent Funding
Consultant in Wisconsin, says that cities and counties should use their
software to pick out a few specific priorities, not plead a case for ten
projects if two is the realistic target. “If you ask for four or more
projects, people’s eyes get glazed over.” He says that federal funding is
key, but there are local dollars being left on the table all over the place.
“Be creative locally. Cities and counties should determine who will benefit
from a new project into the future and ask for funding from those who will
benefit.” An example is a project that builds infrastructure near farmland
that will eventually be sold for millions of dollars to developers.
In Monterrey, California they’ve got an ear
to the local network, and also a nose in the data. Deputy Public Works
Director Hans Uslar uses Hansen software to look at public works data and
make decisions on which projects should be prioritized. He also took things
a step further and hired a full-time grant coordinator. John Guertin, the
grant coordinator, has daily access to the software to help write his grant
applications. Reports Uslar, “Every dollar we pay (Guertin) brings in thirty
in grants.”
“I’m constantly adjusting and tinkering with
the data.” In fact, he says he’s found ways to increase efficiencies and
target grants well enough that the cost of the management software was
recovered within one year.
These strategies are not just for large
municipalities. Smaller towns and counties are looking to PubWorks
Software to help give them a leg up with a solution geared to operations
their size.
One public works department focused enough
before having an asset and resource management system in place to find
outside funding to pay for it. Johnson and Sheridan Counties in Wyoming
recently hooked up with the University of Wyoming on a
Local Technical
Assistance Program (LTAP) grant. The project was to digitally inventory
local roadways. Besides getting their roadways entered into a GIS system,
Cheryl Benner of Johnson County explains, “Part of the project
was to find the software to manage maintenance records of those roadways.”
The county chose PubWorks and was given the dollars to buy it
through the LTAP. Said Benner, “(The project) worked out VERY well for us,
and is supposed to be a pilot for the rest of the state.”
‘Work smarter, not harder’ is the popular
mantra these days. And, with the right information at their fingertips,
savvy public works officials are finding ways to prioritize and claim their
piece of the funding pie.
Table of Contents Volume 4, Edition 1
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