December 2022
News + Updates
Highlights
2022 Year in Review
ESI has done a lot in the past year. Click below to see highlights from all of our practice areas.

State of North Broad Presentation
ESI Director Melissa Wright presented at the State of North Broad event on December 6thhighlighting key findings from the annual report produced by ESI with provides a comprehensive review of the North Broad area. In partnership with community stakeholders, the North Broad Renaissance is working to revitalize the community, improve the economic climate, and overall quality of life within the corridor.
RAISE NOFO Released
The U.S. Department of Transportation released the 2023 RAISE grants notice of funding opportunity.

We work with public agencies to help them show the economic, transportation, social, and environmental and equity impacts of their projects and achieve the desired outcomes of the RAISE program. Key services include:

  • Benefit-cost analyses;
  • Equity analyses and impact on communities;
  • Third-party review and analysis of applications prior to submission;
  • Full preparation of application package.

Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant program (formerly known as BUILD), provides a unique opportunity for the U.S. Department of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives.
Staff and Senior Advisor Updates
Congratulations to ESI Principal Gina Lavery on giving birth to her first child!
ESI President Peter Angelides served as moderator for session 1 at the Innovations in Infrastructure Summit, presented by Drexel University and the Bond Dealers of America. The topic of discussion was the current state of America's infrastructure and the 2021 federal infrastructure legislation
ESI Director Frank Robinson gave the keynote presentation at the Transportation Management Association of Chester County's (TMACC) EV Summit. ESI Intern Kendra Hills presented on equity in EV implementation and served on a panel discussing EV ordinances at TMACC's EV Summit. Read about it here.
ESI Senior Advisor Elmore Alexander was elected chair of the board at Les Roches in Switzerland
ESI Senior Advisor Joyce Lee wrote an article for usgcb.org about museums around the world working together to meet climate goals. Read it here.
Principal Richard Voith co-authored a paper on the effects of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and an article based on those findings was featured in the December issue of Tax Credit Advisor.
Director Rebecca DeJoseph is scheduled to present at the CREW Greater Philadelphia Economic Forecast on January 19. Register here.
The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century, by ESI Senior Advisor David Rouse and Rocky Piro was mentioned in Planetizen's list of top urban planning books of 2022.
Principal Lee Huang was named on City and State PA's 2022 Impact 50. Read more here.
ESI Senior Advisor Shelley Sylva was named one of City and State PA's 2022 Impact 50. Read more here.
Principal Steve Wray served as moderator on the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) panel on a Targeted Systems Initiatives discussion. Wray is also a member of ELIC.
We welcome Eric Stern to the Senior Advisor Board! Eric is an experienced lawyer in the fields of real estate and economic development.
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Join our Growing Team!
We are currently inviting candidates to check out our open positions and apply today. Please don't hesitate to direct those who might be a good fit as well. We'd love to work with you!
Update from the Center

As Econsult Solutions celebrates the one-year anniversary of ESI Center for the Future of Cities, we are thrilled to present a collection of our smart city-focused thought leadership and research. This portfolio connects the firm’s urban economics, policy, and strategy expertise and sits at the forefront of addressing the most challenging issues city leaders face today. The ESI team has produced ground-breaking research that has helped lay the foundation for building out a more just, sustainable, and prosperous future in four key focus areas:

  • Livability
  • Mobility
  • Investment
  • Governance

To learn more about the Center for the Future of Cities and to get involved, contact Steve Wray, [email protected].
U.S. - China Research
China Needs to Get Ready for Post-Pandemic Economic Volatility

With the adjustment of China’s COVID-19 measures, its economic recovery has also become the focus of recent market attention. With the evolution of the current trend, researchers at ANBOUND point out that the focus of policy will shift from COVID-19 control to economic construction. This is shown in the CPC Central Committee’s meeting earlier, where the continuous implementation of proactive fiscal and stable monetary policies was mentioned.

Present Value
ESI Intern Kendra Hills wrote another piece in the Present Value series on electric vehicle policy. Learn about the current state of EV policy in the U.S. and how these policies are helping to overcome barriers to widespread EV adoption.

As we draw near to the end of 2022, we recap at our highest viewed Present Value articles from this year. As part of this, ESI would like to give special thanks to all of our staff, interns, senior advisors, clients, and colleagues that contributed to Present Value in 2022. We look forward to providing even more thought provoking content in 2023!
Client Spotlight
Congratulations to the City of Wilmington on winning a RAISE grant for its Riverfront Transportation Infrastructure Project.

ESI is well versed in preparing whole or parts of RAISE applications. If you are interested in acquiring these services, please contact us here.
Congratulations to SEPTA for winning a RAISE grant for 19th and 37th Street Trolley Station Improvements.
Nicetown's Zion Baptist Church Annex was selected as part of the Sacred Places/Civic Spaces initiative, where underutilized religious and historic properties are re-envisioned or remodeled as an active part of the community. The program is funded by the William Penn Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a partnership between the Community Design Collaborative and Partners for Sacred Places.
The Franklin Institute is set to open Disney100: The Exhibition on February 18, 2023. The new showcase will provide attendees with an immersive experience throughout a 15,000 square foot gallery in commemoration of the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney.
Hilco Redevelopment Partners is set to begin the first phase of construction in early 2023 for what the company has labeled the Bellwether District, which spans 1,300 acres on the site of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.
The New Mexico Bioscience Authority has proposed a $50 million co-investment program similar to programs orchestrated in Arizona and Colorado which will allow the Authority to partner with private firms that match the authority's investment at a 2:1 rate to increase the amount being invested in New Mexico Bioscience companies to $150 million over the next 10 years.
Allegheny County's Department of Human Services launched a one-year pilot program providing certain low-income residents with free or reduced public transit fares through Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
SEPTA is offering free rides home from Lincoln Financial Field after Eagles games this season. Free rides start two hours after kick-off and run for four hours or until last train (12:30 AM).
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