THE INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE JOINS FORCES WITH ACCELERATOR FOR AMERICA TO TRANSFORM INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY IN U.S. CITIES
THE INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE JOINS FORCES WITH ACCELERATOR FOR AMERICA TO TRANSFORM INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY IN U.S. CITIES
New partnership I3@AFA will help cities deliver transformative public infrastructure through technology, alternative project delivery, and non-traditional finance.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Accelerator for America (AFA) and Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP) today announced a long-term partnership to expand the Innovative Infrastructure Initiative (I3), helping communities across the country deploy transformative infrastructure projects. Launched in 2021 as a consortium of policymakers, technologists, investors, academics, and other leading thinkers, I3 has championed projects that use innovative strategies to meet pressing infrastructure needs.
I3@AFA will build on this foundation and bring a new focus on the procurement and delivery of technology-enabled infrastructure, such as the equitable deployment of clean energy, electric vehicle charging, and new forms of mobility, as well as opportunities for private and non-traditional methods of financing. The new initiative builds on AFA’s leadership in fostering innovation by sharing knowledge, tools, and best practices across US cities. This collaborative approach will help local leaders access new solutions that leverage public and private investment to improve quality of life in communities across America.
“AFA was founded to provide local leaders with the resources and partnership to tackle their communities' most complex challenges. We are excited to be taking on this new mission with our partners at SIP to launch I3@AFA. Through this endeavor, we will bring together the nation’s boldest local leaders with procurement experts and private sector partners to explore new ways to deliver modern and transformative infrastructure projects,” said Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, AFA’s CEO. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the pace of tech innovation, there is simply too much work to be done, and too much new opportunity to capture, to do business the way it’s always been done. Cities and their regional and state infrastructure partners are ready to think about infrastructure solutions differently, and I3@AFA is ready to bring them the resources they need to accomplish their vision.”
The program will build on the Accelerator’s success developing communities of practice, like the organization’s Stimulus Command Centers and the Smart City Accelerator, that bring together a cohort of cities around a common problem or salient opportunity. I3@AFA will include a group of cities and infrastructure partners focused on developing local capacity to implement innovative, tech-enabled solutions through procurement, private financing, and transformative infrastructure project delivery.
I3@AFA’s launch was announced by SIP’s Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, David Gilford, at a convening of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Public-Private Partnerships Task Force.
"Public-private partnerships offer cities the potential to deliver better infrastructure by harnessing new technologies, approaches and private capital. As Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors P3 Task Force, we look forward to collaborating with I3@AFA to explore how cities can best leverage all available resources at our disposal for the betterment of our communities,” said Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, Georgia.
“SIP’s mission is to build technology-enabled infrastructure that is more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. Through this multi-year partnership with AFA, we are excited to work with mayors and municipalities to build local capacity for accessing new ways to deliver infrastructure,” said David Gilford, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners. “Bringing creative capital and forward-thinking local leaders together, I3@AFA will enable towns and cities to realize the promise of the federal government’s generational investment to prepare communities for tomorrow’s challenges.”
“We are at a uniquely powerful time in human history. The importance of truly sustainable public-private partnerships that help cities access new delivery mechanisms while leveraging innovative ideas and technology cannot be overstated,” said Steve Benjamin, former Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, and past President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “This partnership is a big deal that will fundamentally change lives.”
“Internal capacity to deliver projects is a limiting factor for many municipalities and public sector agencies today, particularly in some of the more technically challenging aspects of building tomorrow’s infrastructure,” said John Porcari, Managing Partner of 3P Enterprises and a member of I3@AFA’s steering committee. “This initiative will help address those capacity constraints.”
"Accelerator for America is a recognized center of excellence in infrastructure and innovation, so this combination is a natural fit,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri. “I3@AFA represents an exciting force to help cities utilize public-private partnerships to move from aspiration to action through innovative solutions."
"We must view infrastructure beyond just the built environment and recognize its broad impacts on our economy, our environment, our quality of life and so much more," said Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Arizona. “I3@AFA will help localities develop capacity to deliver infrastructure projects that can truly transform communities in holistic ways.”
Following this announcement, the Accelerator will establish a community of practice that will include city government leaders alongside their regional and state infrastructure peers, working together on an identified infrastructure project in their community. I3@AFA also expects to engage partners from the public, private, philanthropic, and educational sectors. The group will convene to receive expert resources and share peer learning to assist in the pre-development stage of the project and ongoing support as the projects begin the procurement and implementation stages.
To learn more about how to get involved with I3@AFA please contact Accelerator for America's Director of Infrastructure, Ross van Dongen, at ross@acceleratorforamerica.org.
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Mary Ellen Wiederwohl
President and CEO | Accelerator for America