Late last Friday, after months of wrangling between progressive and centrist Democrats, the bipartisan $1.2 trillion “core infrastructure” package was passed by Congress. The bill is considered the largest upgrade of American infrastructure in a generation. Below is a graphic illustrating how the $1.2 trillion budget is to be spent over 8 years:

The ACEC Fall Conference was held the last week in October and ACEC CEO and President Linda Bauer Darr provided a very positive report on our industry. In case you missed it, the following is an excerpt from ACEC’s Last Word newsletter.

“The state of our industry is strong,” Darr said. “A/E revenues have fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, many firms enjoyed record profits in 2020, and productivity in our industry seems to have soared.”

Economists forecast continued expansion, she said, despite concerns about inflation, the supply chain, and most pressing, the tight labor market.

Although Congress continues to debate the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Darr said ACEC is confident that the legislation will pass in the coming weeks. She also expressed optimism that the Council’s PPP Credit Clause fix will pass.

Darr also reported that:

• ACEC/PAC is on track to top $1 million in fundraising again.
• The Council is moving forward on all five goals in the Strategic Plan.
• State Organizations had strong membership recruitment:
  • 38.4 percent had 2 percent Member Firm growth
  • 63.4 percent had 3 percent employee growth
  • 30.7 percent had both 2 percent Member Firm growth and 3 percent employee growth.

“The state of ACEC and the engineering industry is strong,” Darr concluded. “We have found strength through fighting together on shared legislative challenges.  Strength through collaboration, communication, and cooperation. And power from a singular strategic vision.”

I believe one of the key things that makes and keeps our industry strong is the quality of men and women we have in our firms. For the last few years, there has been a shortage of good people available and that has made recruitment and retention of quality staff a real challenge for us all.

With the above in mind, your chapter board of directors continues to offer support to organizations and initiatives we feel will promote our industry.These organizations and initiatives typicallyhelp develop young people and encourage them to pursue vocations within our industry.I’m happy to report that so far, and so early in the fiscal year, we have approved giving support (both time and money) to the following programs:

• $2,500 to the ACEC Scholarship Foundation
• $1,000 sponsorship to Team Juice (Folsom-based robotics team)
• $1,000 sponsorship for CREATE  (A/E/C mentoring program)
• $1,000 scholarship for a CREATE program candidate

Thank you all again for your continued support of ACEC and our fantastic industry!

Stay well and let’s continue to build a better California,

Scott Lillibridge, ACEC-CA Sierra Chapter President