Strengthening Communities

Issue 7.47

November 19, 2021

Meet Superstars in Business Winner:

HARVEY, HANNA & ASSOCIATES

STRENGTHENING A COMMUNITY THROUGH WORLD-CLASS REDEVELOPMENT

One can tell quite a bit about a community by the state of its buildings, which are both a foundation for its history and a powerful indicator of its future. Newport-based Harvey, Hanna & Associates (HHA) develops, owns, and manages over 3 million square feet of real estate across Delaware. HHA remains engaged in what is powering the local, regional, and national economies and, in turn, strengthening the future of its communities. It is HHA’s hope that they can help attract and retain thousands of jobs in Delaware. Read more >

WATCH THEIR VIDEO:

Harvey Hanna & Associates | 2021 Superstars in Business

Infrastructure Bill Passes

FIVE BIG WINS FOR OUR ECONOMY

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the stage is set to start rebuilding America and turbocharge our nation's economic growth. Here are five big wins for our economy now that the legislation has passed. Read more >

1. Upgrades All Physical Infrastructure

2. Provides Fast Approvals for New Projects

3. Makes Historic Investment to Address Climate Change

4. Equips All Communities for the Future

5. Improves Project Delivery to Encourage More Private Investment

FACT VS FALLACY

FACT: The bill is the largest investment in physical infrastructure in history.

The IIJA addresses basic American needs like clean drinking water, wastewater disposal and treatment, safe roads, and a reliable electrical power grid. It also makes the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak and the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.

FALLACY: The bill is only 10-30% real infrastructure.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill is 100% real infrastructure. It funds $1.2 trillion in physical infrastructure, including $550 billion in new funds for much needed investment. Here’s how it breaks down:

FACT: The bill precipitates a resilient energy independent future for the U.S.

FALLACY: The bill will lead to increased inflation.

FACT: This is a fiscally responsible bill.

FALLACY: There’s no way to pay for the bill.

FACT: The bill is an answer to the modern infrastructure challenges of today.

WHAT'S DELIVERED TO DELAWARE

$1.2B

For federal-aid highway apportioned programs

$225M

For bridge replacement

and repairs

$355M

Over five years to improve water infrastructure

$100M

To help provide broadband coverage across the state

$2M

Over five years to protect against wildfires

$11M

To protect against cyberattacks

$18M

To support the expansion

of an EV charging network over five years

$246M

For infrastructure development for airports over five years

Click to view the full breakdown of investments

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY

THE KEY TO SUSTAINING YOUR DE&I EFFORTS

While more companies are investing internally in DE&I, they also need to prioritize diversity in their external business relationships. In the last year, corporate attention toward diversity, equity and inclusion has skyrocketed alongside the national reckoning on racial inequality. Organizations rolled out new C-suite positions focused on DE&I, created aggressive diversity hiring goals, and made significant strides toward diversifying the talent pipeline. In fact, according to a recent survey of HR executives by Future Workplace, DE&I is now considered their second most important priority—after the topic didn’t even break the top five list in the first half of 2020. Read more >

GETTING REAL ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE

OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT

By Brian DiSabatino

I wish I could say the topic of race wasn’t difficult to discuss openly, it’d be disingenuous if I did. I need to begin this message by saying that I hope you will give me a chance to take a risk, to break open a conversation that is long overdue. I ask you to allow me some grace where I may not use the right words or may not share your perspective. I’m willing to take that risk because I’m not willing to give up on making this industry better.

The bottom line is that the industry has come a long way, but there are still not enough African Americans in it. Read more >

Message from the President

This week is National Apprenticeship Week and while apprentice programs have been around since the Dark Ages, today they are more valuable than ever . We need more health care professionals, building trades craftsmen and women, technologists, logisticians, airline mechanics, and more. Read more >