WELCOME TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK TIPSHEET from http://infrastructureweek.org

60 events. 150 organizations. Thousands of participants. One week to tell America how #InfrastructureMatters.

Infrastructure Week is just around the corner, kicking off next Monday, May 16, and running through an entire jam-packed week of events. We wanted to send this exclusive pre-week tipsheet as an introduction to all of the great events, studies, news stories, social media engagement opportunities, and more that will be a part of Infrastructure Week 2016.

This year’s theme for the week is Infrastructure Matters. We believe, it matters to our public health and safety, to our communities, to our economy... essentially, to everything. Infrastructure is the nerve system that keeps our country moving. Infrastructure is responsible for keeping everything from water, to electricity, to goods, flowing from one point to another. When it works well, it keeps us safe and healthy, and our economy strong. But as we’ve seen in too many catastrophes in this country, when infrastructure is neglected, it can put people in danger, it dampens our economy, it leaves our roads and skies congested, and it means we fall behind our international competitors.

That’s why we’re spreading the message that Infrastructure Matters through the halls of Congress, across the nation’s capital, and across the country from coast to coast next week. Nearly 150 organizations have signed up to be a part of Infrastructure Week, and together they are planning more than 60 events. As in past years, Infrastructure Week is led by our diverse steering committee of leading national organizations: the AFL-CIO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, Building America’s Future, Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Value of Water Coalition.

KICKOFF ON MONDAY
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND!
Or, view the live webcast!
On Monday, May 16 we’ll kick off at the US Chamber of Commerce with an all-star line up, including: Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security; Victor Mendez, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President; Michael Ducker, FedEX Freight President and CEO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chairman; Mayor David Condon (Spokane, WA); Mayor Sly James (Kansas City, MO); Mayor Stephanie Miner (Syracuse, NY); Paul Misener, Amazon.com VP Global Innovation Policy; Ray LaHood, Former Secretary of Transportation (Obama Admin); Mary Peters, Former Secretary of Transportation (W. Bush Admin); Rodney Slater, Former Secretary of Transportation (Clinton Admin); James Burnley, Former Secretary of Transportation (Reagan Admin), and many more! Seating is limited, but a few spots are still available if you’d like to attend the event. Register here today!

IN THE NEWS
The nation's subways are falling apart, but the next president might actually fix them -- “Groups from the left and right, led by the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce, are gathering this month in Washington to press Congress for infrastructure spending at all levels, including roads, bridges and water pipes that have gained urgent attention after dangerous levels of lead leached into the drinking water in Flint, Mich. While few expect to get an infusion of cash this year, they are hoping to lay the groundwork for next year, when a new president often gets a brief window of cooperation with Congress to pass spending bills.” -- LA TIMES, 5/9/16

America's infrastructure $1.44 trln short through 2025 -report -- “America will fall $1.44 trillion short of what it needs to spend on infrastructure through the next decade, a gap that could strip 2.5 million jobs and $4 trillion of gross domestic product from the economy, a report showed on Tuesday. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimates that through 2025, the United States has funded only about 56 percent of its needed infrastructure spending.” -- Reuters, 5/10/16

#INFRASTRUCTUREMATTERS - TAKE ACTION!
Whether you can join us in real life next week or not, please be a part of the online Infrastructure Week conversation! Last year, social media about infrastructure issues reached millions of Americans during I Week, amplifying our message well beyond the rooms where our events happen. We want to make sure we’re as successful this year! Here are five ways to join us:

Be part of our Thunderclap: ow.ly/4n6K9Q Start off I-Week with a big bang of social media attention! Help us reach our goal of having 250 organizations all share the same message on social media simultaneously, at 11 am ET on Monday, May 16!
Follow us on Twitter, @InfraWeek
Use #InfrastructureMatters before and during Infrastructure Week
Use the tweets we’ve drafted and graphics we’ve created for you, easily downloaded here.
Write to your elected leaders using our online Take Action platform! Write one letter that will automatically be sent to your national, state, and local leaders!

A LOOK AHEAD AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK CALENDAR
With such a diverse group of affiliates hosting events across the country, there is a plethora of opportunities to attend events in person or online, wherever you are, next week. Here are just a few highlights from the calendar. See the full list of events here.

Monday

Our kickoff, of course: LIVE WEBCAST!

Washington, D.C.: At 1:00 pm, the Bipartisan Policy Center Executive Council on Infrastructure is hosting Bridging the Gap Together: A New Model to Modernize U.S. Infrastructure. Register here.

Washington, D.C.: Eno Technology is presenting: Cheaper, Safer, Faster: How Disruptive Technologies are Changing How We Build and Operate Infrastructure at the House T&I Committee hearing room in Rayburn at 3:00 pm.

Tuesday
Tampa, FL: Building America’s Future and HNTB are hosting an event on technology for the next era of streets and automobiles, How Tampa is Driving the Future of Transportation.
Camden, NJ: American Water and the City of Camden will announce a major milestone in a public-private partnership to improve water and wastewater services, and provide workforce training and skill development in the community. The Mayor of Camden will join this event.

Wednesday
Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. and around America! Even if you can’t make it to Capitol Hill, write to your delegation!
Washington, DC: Hill briefing and press conference with Gov. Ed Rendell, I Week’s Congressional Co-Chairs Senators Capito and Cardin and Representatives Graves and Maloney, labor and business leaders, and a presentation from American Society of Civil Engineers on the infrastructure investment gap. Register here.
Also, join us for the most fun part of Infrastructure Week - our reception! The widely held event will be from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm, The Flying Bridge - 444 North Capitol St NW. The reception is co-hosted by Infrastructure Week and Value of Water Coalition, because without water, there would be no ice, no beer, no wine, and no receptions. Register to join us here.

Thursday
Washington, D.C.: Our marquee event for Thursday, Bloomberg Government and Siemens host “The Future of Cities,” taking a deeper dive into how an increasingly urban America will be driven by new technologies, policies, and investments across transportation, energy, water, and more! Featured speakers include former governor and presidential candidate Martin O’Malley!
Cleveland, OH: As part of the Value of Water Coalition's “Local Innovators Tour” the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will lead a tour of green infrastructure in Cleveland.
On the phone: APTA will host a nationwide press conference call on the Current State of the Nation’s Aging Public Transportation Infrastructure.

Friday
Washington, D.C.: Want to keep talking tech? Join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation for a look at the digital infrastructure systems that will define the U.S. economy in the future! More info here.
Juneau, AK: When we said Infrastructure Week was nationwide, we weren’t kidding. ASCE is hosting a port tour and new cruise ship dock celebration in Juneau, Alaska!

And the Following Monday...

Washington, D.C.: At 3:00 pm in the Congressional Visitors Center, Airports Council International - North America is presenting Beyond the Runway Coalition: Airport Finance – A Free Market Approach, and Airports as Economics Engines.

Evanston, IL: Mobility 2050: A Vision for Transportation Infrastructure and How We Can Get There will be presented by Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Northwestern University.

TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE...
"It is just one more example of the under-investments that have been made. The D.C. Metro historically has been a great strength of this region. But over time, we under-invested in maintenance and repair,” said President Obama, last week regarding the recent problems plaguing Washington’s Metro system.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Infrastructure Week would not be possible without the generous support of members of our Steering Committee, and our 2016 sponsors: Autodesk, The Business Roundtable, HNTB, Siemens, WSP-Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Infrastructure Week is a national week of events; media coverage; and education and advocacy efforts to elevate infrastructure as a critical issue impacting all Americans. Learn more at http://infrastructureweek.org

Economic Development