Editor’s Note: March/April 2022

Dear Readers in print and online,

I am pleased to welcome you to our March/April issue of American Infrastructure. This month we have our annual Sourcebook where we include the industry’s top brands and products for you to consider.

Apart from our product spotlights, we also include columns from the heads of the most important government departments. They share the importance of their teams and how the passage of President Biden’s infrastructure bill will directly affect their organizations.

Scott Grayson, CEO of the American Public Works Association (APWA) kicks off this issue with an overview of the association and how it grew to the large organization it is today.

Other organizations featured this month include the Water Environment Federation Stormwater Institute (WEF), National League of Cities (NLC), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Broadband is finally receiving the necessary funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) creating equal opportunities for all Americans. In her column, Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce for the NTIA, discusses the importance of a balanced system that allows each American to have proper access to the internet.

 “The Commerce Department and NTIA are working to ensure that every single American, from urban to rural to Tribal communities, can access the internet and participate in our modern economy,” Raimondo said.

With the passage of the IIJA, these organizations are excited to share with us the projects that are being funded over the next five year period. 

The WEF shared that stormwater infrastructure will be getting a much needed makeover after receiving a grade of D on the ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. They will be receiving multiple grants to fund various projects that will hopefully get their grade up.

Our AI Interview this month is Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Director of DHS Partnerships Center, Marcus Coleman. Since before the pandemic and throughout every natural disaster, FEMA has been working around the clock to help those in need. Director Coleman shares the impact that they are making.

We hope you enjoy this year’s Sourcebook, and as always, if you have any news or projects you’d like us to know about, don’t hesitate to reach out. Email me at camille@builder.media.

Camille Manaloto is the Editor of American Infrastructure Magazine. She may be reached at camille@builder.media.