Adam Wasserman

USDoT Launches INFRA Grant Program: GLDPartners Invites Project Reviews

More federal grant funds to support transportation infrastructure were announced in late June. This represents the Trump Administration's follow-on to the project funding program that has been known as FASTLANE previously under the Obama Administration. The newly named program will be called INFRA and will focus on projects in which the local sponsor is significantly invested and where the project is positioned to proceed rapidly to construction. USDoT is interested to participate in projects that are of national or regional economic significance. INFRA funds can be used for a range of purposes, including: reconstruction, rehabilitation, property acquisition, environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, equipment acquisition, and operational improvements. Ultimately funded at $1.5B, this is a modest investment in terms of overall national infrastructure, but does represent some serious funding for specific projects. Representing new emphasis, the DoT is increasingly interested projects that include private investment. Some portion of the funding (25%) is set-aside for projects in rural areas. Applications for funding must be received within 120 days following publication, which was June 29, 2017.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:56-07:00July 1st, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Need for Greater Commitment to US Strategic Infrastructure Investment: HMT

The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017 has been introduced in both the US House and Senate to restructure how the Harbor Maintenance Tax Trust Fund monies are spent, with a stronger emphasis on port harbor maintenance needs. Generating over $1.6B every year, diverting monies from the Fund has long been a major issue for seaports as their business activity generates tremendous resources that were intended to be spent on supporting ongoing harbor maintenance needs.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:56-07:00July 1st, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Magna to build BMW’s new hybrid as the world’s only contract auto manufacturer. More of this to come.

We've been anticipating this and now it's happening and it's big news. The blur between supplier and OEM in the automotive sector is increasing. The giant Canadian-based automotive supplier to OEMs has announced a new facility in Austria to assemble both the Jaguar I-Pace (JLR) and the BMW 5-Series plug-in hybrid vehicles. Now, with contract manufacturer responsibilities, a firm like Magna is moving toward status as a "partner OEM". This is likely to portend other moves where suppliers take on assembly of specialized vehicles for legacy OEMs, but also for some of the new-on-scene tech-oriented automotive start-ups.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:57-07:00June 20th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Delphi: A Lesson in Modern “Corporate Industrial Evolution”

Delphi Automotive is becoming a global leader in next-generation automotive technology and this transformation is probably one of the best examples of a successful corporate transformation. Delphi has come full-circle in shedding its formal role as producers of commodity products for the massive automotive industry, and anticipating a fundamentally new automotive industry has repositioning itself as a leader in what's being referred to as producing and servicing tomorrow's "automotive networks".

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:57-07:00June 12th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Global Inland Port Investments: Logistics Efficiencies or Economic Development? Or Both?

Around the world, the inland port phenomenon is gaining momentum very rapidly. At the bottom of this article, we list just some of the recent news articles published over the last few months from around the world, talking about new or proposed inland port projects. This is just a sampling, there are many more. The inland port concept is quite popular right now but we wanted to highlight some critical issues that will impact their ultimate success.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:58-07:00June 4th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Europe (Germany) is a Major Global Factor in AutoTech

There is a lot of news from Asia and North America about advancements in automotive technology and the legacy and start-up players that are generating new tech products in those locations. There are also stories about autotech development from the UK or Israel, and some other places, but it is Germany that is Europe's emerging automotive technology hub.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:58-07:00May 26th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

GLDPartners Begins Cross-Border Infrastructure and Market Development Project

GLDPartners and partner Cambridge Systematics have just begun a project in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to review the region's infrastructure and market competitiveness - toward developing a regional focus on targeting the attraction of supply chain investment to the region. This region is quite interesting because of its location, its Seaway system access, airport and because of its cross-border setting. GLDPartners has worked on statewide infrastructure analytics and competitiveness positioning in Michigan previously and has substantial experience in cross-border settings and in Canada. This project is an excellent example of local leadership and cooperation, including the regional planning organization and its economic development and corporate partners.

By Adam Wasserman|2017-05-05T08:05:33-07:00May 5th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

US Must Take Investment in Multimodal Transport Infrastructure Seriously

We agree with AAPA and Kurt Nagle. In the US, there is little systemic planning or funding for strategic national system transportation and economic development. If the new Washington Administration is at all serious about economic growth on a global stage, it is imperative that the country take demonstrative steps toward creating a thoroughly modern, super-efficient freight transport infrastructure. In large measure, this is not the case today and the programs and investments over recent years, though helpful, were but small bandages applied to an old, creaky patchwork that comprises the national cargo movement system. Certainly, we cannot go backwards - rather, we need to be doing a heck of a lot more. At this point though, we are not seeing the kind of vision and leadership that we need and this must evolve and evolve quickly.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:59-07:00April 26th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Brexit and Its Implications

It is now well over two weeks since triggering Article 50, how much more do we now know? Very little that is of any use to anyone, who owns or runs a business, appears to be the answer. The EU has now responded to Theresa May’s letter setting out their starting point and, if anything, relationships have worsened with both sides becoming more entrenched. At stake are huge ramifications to businesses that trade and manufacture.

By Adam Wasserman|2019-06-14T11:03:59-07:00April 18th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

Will Canadian Transport Assets Be Sold to Capitalize Infrastructure? Not Yet.

The federal Government in Canada has budget challenges and that is, in part driving considerations to privatize its main seaports and airports. This is an extremely important issue that has deep financial, political, and underlying competitiveness consequences and a go-slow strategy is surely quite prudent. With Canada having some of the most efficient and professionally managed transport assets in the world, this isn't generally a matter of selling-off poorly performing assets or assets that have severely poor infrastructure. Certainly there will be a perspective of the potential for private players offering access to global financial markets and some will refer to the advantages of global asset management platforms. But critically, many of Canada's seaports and airports are well-managed and with high-quality infrastructure in-place.

By Adam Wasserman|2017-04-15T18:59:44-07:00April 15th, 2017|Blog, Uncategorized|

About Adam Wasserman