TOP 7 ways 2013 federal funds might flow your way
- Transportation investments: According to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the surface transportation reauthorization that took place in 2012 represents an 80 percent increase in funding over the previous surface transportation reauthorization. Over the next six years, $47 billion of that will go to the development of high-speed rail. Cities along high-speed rail corridors, including Little Rock, Ark.; Chicago, Ill.; Detroit, Mich.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Harrisburg, Pa.; and others, should see spillover business revenue from the effort as well.
- The proposed creation of a national infrastructure bank to direct federal resources for infrastructure projects would offer unbiased selection for large-scale transportation, water and energy infrastructure projects that have a clear public benefit. Loans extended by the bank will be extendable for up to 35 years.
- The same budget will provide over $1 billion for Next Generation Air Transportation at numerous regional and municipal airports, with the intention of reducing air traffic congestion and making it safer to fly, reduce delays and save fuel.
- Proposed legislation in the budget will bring wireless broadband to all parts of the country by providing authority for voluntary incentive auctions that will enable spectrum licensees to auction rights to use their spectrum for a share of the proceeds. That step should reallocate and free up spectrum.
- Of that broadband funding, $7 billion is earmarked to build an interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety employees that will allow seamless use by first responders across the country.
- The budget supports the modernization of electrical grids by investing in research, development and smart-grid technologies to make the systems more efficient, secure and reliable.
- The Armys Corps of Engineers’ construction program for water infrastructure construction will have $1.5 billion dedicated to it, and an additional $99 is earmarked for the Mississippi River and its tributaries for dam, public safety and aquatic ecosystem projects.
