Obligating State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
2024-12-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join U.S. Treasury officials and federal funding experts for a discussion on obligation requirements, safe harbors and strategies for funding re-deployment post-obligation deadline.

Can Generative AI Help Generate Support for Infrastructure Projects?
2024-12-18 14:00 - 15:00
Infrastructure projects work best when the communities served and impacted by proposed investments are engaged and informed early and effectively in the planning process. Visual renderings and data-driven maps explaining proposed works are a tool long used by the private sector to guide discussion about future outcomes with community stakeholders. But local governments typically lack the resources to produce accurate, realistic renderings of committed infrastructure projects—let alone multiple possible designs. Generative AI, however, now offers a fast-expanding array of tools for creating photorealistic renderings and thematic maps that portray multiple options, opening new possibilities for planning and public engagement. This session will explore how urban planners and community advocates are harnessing these new capabilities to engage community stakeholders earlier and more effectively, to improve infrastructure projects and consolidate support as they seek federal funding.
Speakers:

Emily Royall, Smart City Administrator, City of San Antonio, Texas
Ashley Louie, Chief Technology Officer, BetaNYC
Damiano Cerrone, Co–Founder, UrbanistAI

Investing in Disaster Preparedness
2025-01-07 14:00 - 15:00
Every year residents are subject to the consequences of increasing severity in storms, flooding, droughts, wildfires and extreme heat. This webinar will explore the grant programs available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act that cities can use to prepare for changing weather patterns.

What Augmented Reality Means for Urban Infrastructure
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:00
AI and augmented reality (AR) — an emerging layer of digital information and services overlaid on the physical world through mobile and wearable devices — promises to transform how people experience infrastructure on a daily basis. Applications include 3-d walk-throughs of proposed projects before they are built, and augmented wayfinding tools that serve the unique needs of different groups. But while these technologies offer exciting possibilities for civic engagement and accessibility, cities need thoughtful frameworks to ensure they serve community needs rather than corporate interests.
Drawing on a new Cornell Tech report, The Augmented City: Seeing Through Disruption, this session will explore how AI and augmented reality (AR) innovations could reshape infrastructure planning and management – from maintenance crews accessing real-time utility data to citizens visualizing proposed development impacts on their neighborhoods. We’ll explore how transit officials in Columbus, Ohio recently used AR to help win support for a ground-breaking bus rapid transit (BRT) project, and how local governments can proactively develop policies and partnerships that harness AR’s potential while protecting public spaces and privacy.

Innovative Capital Stacks: Ballot Measures
2025-02-11 14:00 - 15:00
Federal funds may not be enough to cover the costs of needed infrastructure investments or are contingent on matching dollars from non-federal sources. Many local leaders are exploring ways to tap into new and existing funding sources to fill this need and enable investments in new and enhanced infrastructure assets. Locally authorized financing mechanisms, like those approved via ballot measures, can form a critical part of the capital stacks for local infrastructure portfolios. Join the Hub to learn from mayors who have successfully leveraged ballot initiatives to secure infrastructure funding.

Infrastructure Tech Procurements: Adapting to A Shifting Policy and Technology Landscape
2025-02-26 14:00 - 15:00
Since 2021, cities have tapped innovations in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to plan, deliver, operate, and maintain high-impact infrastructure projects. These procurements present many new challenges for cities. And now, both the technology and policy landscape are shifting rapidly. This creates a complex challenge: how can cities balance innovation with prudent technology risk management?
This roundtable session brings together experts in federal, state, and city technology procurement to share fresh insights and tested strategies for moving technology innovation projects forward under uncertainty and volatility. As federal infrastructure and AI policy both go through major overhauls, how can cities anticipate and adapt to continued disruption? When does it make sense to move forward with AI procurements in infrastructure projects, and what measures can cities take to reduce risk? When should cities seek options to wait and see, and what are the costs of deferred delivery for AI innovations?

Confirmed speakers:

Santiago Garces, Chief Information Officer, City of Boston, Massachusetts
Waldo Jaquith, Government Delivery Manager, U.S. Digital Response
Katy Ruckle, Chief Privacy Officer, State of Washington

Federal Funding Best Practices
2025-03-25 14:00 - 15:00
Join policy experts to discuss the best strategies for successful grant implementation during an administration transition. From reviewing grant agreements and compliance requirements to evaluating future funding opportunities, attendees will learn tried and true strategies for successful grant project management.

State and Local Recovery Funding Reporting Update
2025-04-08 14:00 - 15:00
The U.S. Conference of Mayors, in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, is hosting a session on Tuesday, April 8, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s recently issued Notice to State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund recipients. The notice expresses the intent to closely monitor recipients’ reports to ensure that funds were used permissibly and obligated on time.
Matthew Hanson, the Managing Director of Grants and Policy at Witt O’Briens, will discuss key considerations for navigating Treasury’s compliance and recoupment efforts. Join us for best practices as your municipality prepares for Treasury’s Project and Expenditure Reports deadline on April 30, 2025.

Improving America’s Roadways—Safe Streets for All
2025-04-29 14:00 - 15:00
This session for municipal leaders will feature program experts, U.S. Department of Transportation officials, and city mayors to discuss strategies for applying to the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, which is currently accepting applications until June 26, 2025. This competitive grant program offers cities the opportunity to apply for funding to invest in planning, demonstration, or implementation projects that improve roadways and reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries—making streets safer for residents.

Tech and Innovation for Urban Resilience: Filling the Gaps
2025-04-30 14:00 - 15:00
As part of the Tech and Innovation Series, this virtual event will feature experts and city leaders who will share how local officials can build systems today to mitigate against natural disasters—and safeguard their communities. From dashboards designed to model extreme flooding and heat events to parcel-level risk assessment models, these specialists will share the practical steps and accessible tools that municipalities can use to withstand severe weather, improve emergency response, and protect property and lives.

Using Data To Strengthen Infrastructure Applications and Grow Investment
2025-05-06 14:00 - 15:00
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions in communities across the country and while we know many infrastructure projects were sorely overdue, it is important that cities can demonstrate that their projects are both necessary and successful. The way to do this is through timely collection of data throughout the project lifecycle, using it both as a way to make improvements and a way to demonstrate impact. This webinar will focus on how cities can prepare now so that they have the information they need for data-driven decisionmaking and measuring the impact of their infrastructure projects

How to Build a Strong Safe Streets Grant Application
2025-05-13 14:00 - 15:00
This virtual event offers municipal government leaders an opportunity to gain in-depth technical insights for submitting a strong Safe Streets and Roads for All grant application. Building on an introductory session hosted in late April, this webinar will feature grant and data experts who will walk through key steps that officials should take to develop a competitive application. Topics will include matching local projects to federal priorities, drafting a compelling project narrative, identifying the right data points and using them to demonstrate the impact of your project, and building a comprehensive budget.
Featured speakers include:

Justin Edwards, Data Director, National League of Cities
Robin Hutcheson, Principal, Hutcheson Advisory
Emily Winburn, Grant Management Specialist, Witt O’Brien’s

Strategies for Securing Low or No-Emission Bus and Bus Facilities Grants
2025-06-12 14:00 - 15:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub is hosting a webinar on this year’s Low or No Emission and Buses and Bus Facilities grant programs to equip city and town leaders with essential updates, insights and strategies to navigate the application process and manage awards effectively. We’ll cover key considerations in the new programs, highlighting what’s changed from previous years and what it means for your grant applications and active projects. This session will walk attendees through the new grant and provide an opportunity to get questions answered. You’ll also hear directly from mayors about their firsthand experiences managing Low-No grant awards — including how they successfully renegotiated existing agreements to align with updated federal requirements. Whether you’re applying for the first time or adapting to new rules, this webinar will provide the insight you need to secure funding and stay compliant.

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Impacts Your Infrastructure Strategy
2025-07-22 14:00 - 15:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub serves as a trusted resource for cities and towns, offering clear, actionable updates and insights into federal infrastructure funding and policy. President Trump recently signed significant legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, into law that will shift the fiscal landscape for local governments.
This virtual session will help decision-makers navigate evolving infrastructure policies and equip attendees with the insights needed to meet updated clean energy investment timelines, manage grant awards and align grant management practices with current federal priorities and funding streams. Participants will gain an understanding of how the recently passed federal budget will affect past and future infrastructure grant opportunities, along with access to resources and technical assistance. Register today.

Strong Fiscal Stewardship Practices for Managing Shifting Infrastructure Policy
2025-07-29 14:00 - 15:00
With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, changes in federal grant programs and the rescission of previously obligated funds all in play, local governments are navigating major shifts in how federal dollars are delivered. Long-standing assumptions about grant stability are changing, and leaders must now adapt to a rapidly evolving funding environment.
This virtual session will help local officials and grant managers plan ahead as federal support becomes more variable. Attendees will learn how to adjust their strategies, prepare for possible budget cuts and align their projects with shifting federal priorities. The session will also explore how scenario planning can help protect services, staff and infrastructure if funding changes midstream. Participants will gain practical tools to assess which grants might be at risk, build more resilient funding plans and respond confidently to change. They’ll also receive access to helpful resources and technical assistance. Register today.

Planning Ahead: Long Range Planning for Infrastructure Investment
2025-08-19 16:00 - 17:00
As cities and towns adapt to the new era of federal funding, municipal grantmaking, planning and economic development teams are adjusting internal processes and stakeholder engagement to meet the moment while continuing to build a better future for their residents. A key tool that mayors, city and town planners, and grant coordination teams can use to guide investment while navigating evolving federal funding priorities is long range planning.
Comprehensive plans, strategic plans and neighborhood master plans — collectively referred to as “long range plans” — can be empowering tools to define a shared vision and support local stewardship. Long range plans typically have a 10-plus-year time horizon and a broad scope, often encompassing a neighborhood, municipality or region. The result is a document with a clear community vision and goals that serve as guidance for long-term investment decisions and local policymaking. These long range plans set the stage for pursuit of future formula funding and competitive grants.
By establishing long-term infrastructure goals that grantmakers can use to scope out and secure grant opportunities, long range planning allows cities to be agile when aligned grant opportunities are announced, sometimes with short application windows. Join Accelerator for America’s Mary Ellen Wiederwohl to learn from Mayor Brad Cavanagh of Dubuque, Iowa, and Mayor Monroe Nichols of Tulsa, Oklahoma, about how cities have engaged the community, established cross-sector partnerships and leveraged data-driven decision-making to make strong long range plans to guide capital improvement programs, zoning updates and project pipelines.

Federal Grants for Innovative Transportation Public-Private Partnerships
2025-09-09 14:00 - 15:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub, in collaboration with Accelerator for America, is hosting a webinar to discuss how local governments can secure federally funded technical assistance in support of leveraging public funds to attract private investment in transportation innovation.
Whether it be for highway, transit, passenger rail, freight facilities, port projects, rural infrastructure projects, airports, or transit-oriented development projects, the Innovative Finance and Asset Concession (IFAC) Grant Program, which is currently accepting applications, allows local governments to access technical assistance and expert support for innovative financing strategies like public-private partnerships and asset concessions.
IFAC grants must be used for advancing projects that are eligible for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides low-interest loans and other credit assistance for surface transportation projects. Together, these programs play a critical role in advancing transformative infrastructure projects by making them financially viable and reducing taxpayer burden. Register today to get access to winning strategies for securing IFAC grant funds.
Speakers include Jennifer Hara, Acting Head of Innovative Finance (Technical Assistance), Build America Bureau at the U.S. Department of Transportation and Ben McAdams, Vice Chair of the Site Readiness Fund.

America’s AI Action Plan: What It Means for Local Infrastructure
2025-10-01 13:00 - 14:00
The administration’s recently-released AI action plan proposes significant reforms to permitting for data centers and related energy and water infrastructure. This session will explore what’s behind the surge in data center construction and how the acceleration of AI infrastructure rollouts could impact local infrastructure and economies. We’ll explore what local government leaders can learn from strategies being tested in impacted communities for working with state regulators and tech companies to manage this process.

Confirmed Speakers:

Ian Linssen, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Mesa, Arizona
Buddy Rizer, Executive Director, Economic Development, Loudoun County, Virginia
Jordan Gerow, Director of Policy and Research & Ruby Wincele, Policy and Research Manager,Climate XChange
Anne Evens, Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Energy

Unlock a Second Operating Budget: How Optimizing Grants Management Delivers Results in Uncertain Times
2025-10-07 14:00 - 15:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub is hosting a virtual session to discuss how municipal leaders can insulate their infrastructure development goals from fiscal uncertainty by optimizing grants management processes. Best practices such as establishing a governance model, building an annual grant plan, establishing a data management system and operating with cash and compliance discipline are some of the strategies that decision-makers can implement to ensure that long-term infrastructure priorities are advanced in an evolving funding environment.
Grants management experts, including Matt Hanson, Managing Director of Government Advisory Services at Witt O’Brien’s, will highlight how enhancing your city’s grants function can help reduce administrative barriers to applying for grants, reduce reporting burdens, save money and raise additional revenue — leaving more time and money available for public engagement and delivering and implementing programs and services for your residents. Attendees will leave this session with access to a realistic 90-day plan, examples from cities who have won grant funding using these model strategies and will have the opportunity to ask questions about how to implement these processes.

Workshop: Brownfields Program (Assessment, Cleanup and Multipurpose Grants)
2025-10-09 12:00 - 16:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub will be offering a new series of Workshops beginning in Fall 2025. Registration is open and dates will be confirmed at a later date. During a half-day workshop, participants will gain grant-specific guidance on high-value federal funding opportunities and learn how to navigate application requirements, align projects with funding criteria, and strengthen implementation readiness. Participants will also have access to office hours with subject-matter experts.
Brownfields program funds may be used to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. This workshop will help cities understand how to apply for types of grants that allow communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. This workshop will take place on Oct 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM E.T.

Improving Local Water Quality: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)
2025-10-28 14:00 - 15:00
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides local governments with low-cost loans and other financing options for a variety of water quality projects. The CWSRF is a federally funded program that is administered by state agencies. This webinar will highlight strategies for local governments to work with their state to access financing for and implement projects like wastewater treatment, stormwater management, habitat restoration, water conservation and reuse, and contaminated site cleanup. Cities who have implemented water projects with the help of CWSRF will discuss their projects and Policy Experts will also join to answer questions about allowable activities and how the program can help your community. Attendees will gain access to one-on-one office hours and project implementation resources. Register today to enhance water quality for your residents.

Tapping Into the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
2025-11-04 14:00 - 15:00
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) provides local governments with low-cost loans and other financing for drinking water projects that protect public health. The DWSRF is a federally funded program that is administered by state agencies. Eligible projects include improving drinking water treatment, fixing leaky or old pipes, improving water supply sources, and replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks. This webinar will discuss how local governments can work with their state agencies to access the program’s funds and will feature cities who have initiated or completed their DWSRF projects as well as experts who can answer questions about how the program works. Attendees will gain access to one-on-one office hours with public health experts and tools to aid with stakeholder engagement and project development.

Successes in Direct Funding: Breaking Ground and Building Futures
2025-11-25 14:00 - 15:00
Since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was passed four years ago, cities and towns across the country have been able to apply for competitive infrastructure funding at the national level which has removed barriers for many localities in receiving more robust funding to build safer streets, offer better transportation options, improve communities, and create jobs. This webinar will showcase the real-world impact and measurable successes of local projects funded through competitive infrastructure grants. It will feature mayors that are driving progress in infrastructure and advancing their vision for their cities’ future, as well as experts in the field who will touch on how cities can best access and leverage competitive infrastructure funding. Attendees will also gain perspective on lessons learned, innovative approaches to project delivery, and what’s next as infrastructure funding continues to make an impact on communities across the nation.

Smart Vehicles, Smart Roads: Future-proofing Infrastructure for Autonomous Vehicles
2025-12-09 14:00 - 15:00
This session will help cities understand how accelerating adoption of autonomous vehicles by mobility providers, freight and delivery services, and consumers will create challenges and opportunities for city infrastructure systems. Participants will hear from transportation officials in cities where AVs are already operating in substantial numbers about the long-term issues raised by ongoing rollouts including: conflicts with vulnerable road users, impacts on traffic flow and congestion, shifts in time and location of EV charging demand, and data resources and needs for informed planning. The discussion will highlight where cities should consider AVs in infrastructure planning today and key areas of uncertainty where cities should maintain flexibility to adapt as AV-related impacts, risks, and opportunities become clearer in the future.
Confirmed speakers:
Rachel Castignoli, Senior Consultant, Austin Transportation and Public Works
Stephanie Dock, D.C. Autonomous Vehicles Program Manager, Department of Transportation
Story Bellows, Partner, Cityfi

Workshop: Safe Streets and Roads for All
2025-12-11 12:00 - 15:00
The Local Infrastructure Hub will be offering a new series of Workshops beginning in Fall 2025. Registration is open and dates will be confirmed at a later date. During a half-day workshop, participants will gain grant-specific guidance on high-value federal funding opportunities and learn how to navigate application requirements, align projects with funding criteria, and strengthen implementation readiness. Participants will also have access to office hours with subject-matter experts.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program provides funding to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Cities can use this funding to develop safety action plans, redesign high-risk corridors, or implement infrastructure improvements like sidewalks and crosswalks. This workshop will explore how local governments can apply SS4A Planning and Implementation funding to advance roadway safety and address the needs of all road users. This workshop will take place on Dec 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM E.T.

Transforming Brownfields into Community Assets: From Cleanup to Comeback
2025-12-16 14:00 - 15:00
This webinar will help local leaders understand the essentials of the EPA Brownfields Program. We’ll walk through how multipurpose, assessment, and cleanup grants work; what makes a project eligible; and how communities can leverage these resources to redevelop brownfield sites. Whether you’re new to the Brownfields program or looking to strengthen an in-progress application, this session will offer guidance, examples of successful projects, and actionable information to support your application.
