The Public Official’s Masterclass: Next-Gen Tools for Infrastructure Finance & Delivery
Hosted by: Build America Center (BAC)
Description: As the infrastructure landscape shifts and evolving market conditions, public agencies face a critical challenge: how to seamlessly blend federal grants with private capital and innovative delivery methods. In this intensive 3-hour workshop, the Build America Center provides public officials with a “hands-on” toolkit to modernize their project delivery pipelines. Moving beyond theory, this session introduces attendees to three specific, high-impact resources: the new Value for Money (VfM) Principles and Standards for evaluating P3s, the Grants+ ecosystem for identifying funds, and strategies for unlocking Opportunity Zone financing for public infrastructure. Designed specifically for State DOTs, municipal leaders, and public finance officers, this workshop will empower agencies to make informed decisions and maximize funding efficiency.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Standardize P3 Decision Making: Apply the BAC Value for Money (VfM) Principles and Standards to rigorously evaluate whether a Public-Private Partnership offers better value than traditional delivery, ensuring fiscal accountability.
- Accelerate Grant Identification: Navigate the GrantsPlus.ai platform to leverage various resources in matching local project needs with complex federal competitive grant criteria and stacking capital effectively.
- Unlock Private Equity: Identify eligible infrastructure components within Opportunity Zones (OZ) and structure financing deals that attract tax-advantaged private investment to bridge project funding gaps.
Target Audience
- State DOT Officials and Project Directors
- Municipal City Managers and Finance Directors
- Public Works and Planning Directors
- MPO Leaders and Transportation Planners
- Others
Workshop Format & Agenda (3 Hours):
Part 1: The New Standard for P3 Evaluation (50 Minutes)
- Focus: Deep dive into the BAC’s Value for Money Analysis Principles and Standards.
- Activity: A guided walkthrough of the VfM Checklist. Attendees will review a sample project case study to determine if it passes the “Value for Money” test using the new standardized methodology.
- Key Resource: VfM Report & Checklist
Part 2: Funding Strategy with GrantsPlus (50 Minutes)
- Focus: Navigating the complex federal grant landscape using modern technology.
- Activity: Live demonstration and interactive session using GrantsPlus.ai. Attendees will see how to input project parameters to instantly generate a matrix of eligible federal grants and innovative financing mechanisms suitable for local projects.
Part 3: The Untapped Potential of Opportunity Zones (45 Minutes)
- Focus: Moving beyond real estate to infrastructure.
- Activity: Overview of legal frameworks and financial modeling for using OZ funds in public projects (e.g., transit hubs, broadband, utility upgrades). Discussion on how to pitch infrastructure projects to Qualified Opportunity Funds.
Q&A and Implementation Roadmap (15 Minutes)
- Open floor for specific project questions and next steps for technical assistance.
Speakers
Qingbin Cui (BAC)
Jennifer Hara (USDOT)
Jim Ziglar (Rebel)
Pete Mancauskas (FHWA)
Sam Beydoun (BAC)
This workshop is FREE for registered public sector attendees. Simply add this to your registration!
Learn more and register at: https://www.thep3conference.com/