Scott, 80, a Democrat who represented Georgia’s 13th Congressional District since 2003, served more than two decades in the U.S. House following earlier service in both chambers of the Georgia Legislature.

During his time in Congress, Scott played a leading role in federal agricultural policy, including serving as chair of the House Agriculture Committee from 2021 to 2023 and later as its ranking member. His work often focused on strengthening rural economies, supporting local communities, and advancing federal programs that influence infrastructure investment, land use, and resource management.

His district spanned a large portion of metro Atlanta, including parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton counties—communities where federal policy decisions help shape transportation networks, water systems, and overall infrastructure planning.

91Ě˝»¨extends its condolences to Rep. Scott’s family, colleagues, and constituents.

National Public Works Week (NPWW) is May 17–23. We’re excited to share resources that will ensure your chapter’s NPWW celebrations shine! Visit www.apwa.org/npww to see what’s available, including the . We encourage poster orders to be placed by April 15 to ensure timely delivery.

By working together, we can make more noise during NPWW! We encourage you to:

• Submit a proclamation to your state governor’s or local mayor’s office. Or both!
• Use our official hashtag #NPWW in all your social media posts. Consider using a combination of any of the following hashtags: #PoweredbyCommunity, #RootedinService, #WeArePublicWorks, #PeopleMatter, and #PublicWorksService.
• Share with 91Ě˝»¨national what your chapter is planning by filling out this brief .

Looking for a little inspiration in planning your NPWW celebrations? Questions may be sent to Aleatha Ezra.

91Ě˝»¨Awards Program – PACE

Nominations for the 91Ě˝»¨Awards Program are now open FOR the Presidential Acknowledgment for Chapter Excellence (PACE), due June 1.

Click here to submit a nomination! Questions can be sent to Cameron Harmeyer at charmeyer@apwa.org.

Multi-Factor Authentication Update—Coming June 1

As you know, cyberattacks and phishing attempts are increasing daily—resulting in millions of dollars in losses and significant disruptions to productivity. Financial auditors increasingly expect organizations to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), and cyber insurance providers often require MFA to reduce premiums or even to qualify for coverage.

Protecting 91Ě˝»¨and chapter data is a top priority. MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and is a widely accepted industry standard, as well as a critical cybersecurity best practice for safeguarding user accounts and organizational information.

As a volunteer-supported organization, safeguarding member data and chapter communications is essential to maintaining trust and ensuring the continuity of day-to-day operations. Therefore, we are implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all 91Ě˝»¨Microsoft 365 accounts used by 91Ě˝»¨staff and chapters. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring additional verification when signing in.

This verification will be completed using the Microsoft Authenticator app when signing in to any Office 365 accounts.

What comes next? Training and Resources

Monday, May 4 at noon Central: Training Webinar on MFA for chapter leaders and volunteers who would like guidance on setup and usage. Invitations with details will be shared. Step-by-step instructions will also be provided for those who prefer to complete setup independently.

MFA enrollment should be completed by June 1 to avoid any disruption in access to 91Ě˝»¨accounts. The setup process typically takes only a few minutes and can be completed on a mobile device.

Questions can be sent to chapterservices@apwa.org.

Envision SP Training

Advance your expertise in sustainable infrastructure through ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s live online Envision SP Training, delivered in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). This four-day program, held May 4–7, prepares participants to apply Envision principles to real-world projects and qualifies them to sit for the ENV SP certification exam. Exam fees are included with registration.

Visit our webpage here for more information or to register.

Third Annual Transportation Workforce Summit—Presentation Proposals Now Open

Presentation proposals are now open for the Third Annual Transportation Workforce Summit. The presentation proposal submission form, save the date, and more information about the event can be .

91Ě˝»¨Accreditation Announcements

Accreditation is the mark of professionalism indicating a public works agency has made the commitment to continuous improvement in delivering public works operations and services to their community. Accreditation recognizes an agency’s policies, procedures, and practices, which have been evaluated against nationally-recognized management practices determined to be appropriate for that specific agency.

The following public works agencies were accredited in March 2026:

Region 3

• Arlington County, Virginia Department of Environmental Services—1st accreditation
• Virginia Beach, Virginia Department of Public Works—4th accreditation
• North Charleston, South Carolina Public Works Department—1st accreditation

Region 4

• Seminole County Public Works Department—1st accreditation

To help chapters recognize and celebrate accredited and re-accredited agencies, we have provided a toolbox to help. The toolbox information can be found here: Promote 91Ě˝»¨Accreditation: Chapter Outreach Resources.

For further information on ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s accreditation program, please feel free to contact Jeanette Klamm, Associate Director of Credentialing at accreditation@apwa.org.

Host a Certificate Program at Your Chapter!

Discover the many benefits of hosting a certificate program at your chapter and get everything you need to put on a successful event. Click here to learn more.

Questions can be sent to education@apwa.org.

Chapter Special Event Insurance Update

91Ě˝»¨has secured a blanket insurance policy covering Roadeos and related types of events from January 15, 2026, through January 14, 2027.

We’ve negotiated a low, flat cost of $960 per event, providing protection for participants and peace of mind for your chapter. 91Ě˝»¨will invoice the chapter/branch treasurer unless an alternate billing contact has been designated.

Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out the Chapter/Branch Roadeo Information Form at least 30 days prior to your event.
2. Submit the form at least 30 days prior to your event start date to chapterservices@apwa.org.
3. You’ll receive a certificate of insurance within 48 hours of submission.

Questions can be sent to chapterservices@apwa.org.

91Ě˝»¨Monthly Chapter Leader Training

The next 91Ě˝»¨Chapter Leader Training will be held on May 11 at noon Central. The topic will be “Conference Education: Resources and Opportunities for Chapter Conference Education Programming.”

Past Chapter Leader Training calls can be viewed by .

Invitations are sent to all chapter leaders approximately three weeks prior to the call. Questions can be sent to Jill Wilbeck.

YP Summit/PWX Complimentary Registrations

There is still time to designate the young professional recipient of your chapter’s complimentary registration to the YP Summit and PWX. Starting May 1st, the intake form will be made public and complimentary registrations will be handed out on a first come, first served basis by chapter. Meaning, anyone in your chapter, who meets the criteria will be able to apply.

If you have someone in mind and do not want them to miss out, please send their information to Maureen Weber before April 30th.

Latest News

Engineering and Public Works Roadshow Stops Today in Sedona

• Highlighting a 2025 91Ě˝»¨Project of the Year award winner in the Historic Restoration/Preservation category, the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow will gather at 11:00 a.m. MST at Ranger Station Park;
• 91Ě˝»¨Region VII Director Kristina Ramirez will participate along with Sedona Mayor Holli Ploog, to showcase this unique site;
• Preserving 100 years of local history, the site consists of the Ranger’s House (1917), Sedona’s oldest standing building, and Ranger’s Barn (1934), both on the National Register of Historic Places;
• The project consisted of refurbishment of the dual structures, as well as making fit for purpose 3.4 acres which now serve as a public park and open space;
• This event will showcase how public works and engineering expertise merged to strengthen resilience, enhance public spaces, and preserve historic assets;
• You can read about the project and view all archived Roadshow stops .

Engineering Workforce Consortium Meets April 21

• The annual meeting of the Engineering Workforce Consortium (EWC) will take place at ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s Washington, D.C. office;
• CEO Scott Grayson, 91Ě˝»¨Director of Government and Public Affairs Andrea Eales, Career & Workforce Development Manager Corinne Watts, and Government Affairs Specialist Jeff Finegan will represent APWA;
• The first-of-its-kind, joint effort led by APWA, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, the EWC brings together a diverse coalition of voices to address and deliberate solutions to the workforce shortage facing the public works and engineering industries;
• Read more about the EWC .

APWA’S Updated “Public Works Are First Responders” Flyer Now Available

• ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s “Public Works Are First Responders” updated flyer is now available;
• As 91Ě˝»¨members know, public works professionals play an essential role in emergency response and recovery alongside law enforcement, fire, and EMS partners;
• It is important to educate policymakers about the vital role public works professionals have in mitigation, being involved from the beginning of an incident through protecting essential services, to full community restoration;
• If you and your chapter are working on first responder recognition at the local and state levels, and would like assistance in your efforts, contact 91Ě˝»¨Sr. Government Affairs Manager, Marty Williams at mwilliams@apwa.org or (202) 218-6732.

U.S. House of Representatives Expected to Vote This Week on Extension of FirstNet Authority

• The House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 7386 the , sponsored by Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL);
• 91Ě˝»¨has a member representative, Mark Ray from Burnsville, Minnesota serving on the First Responder Network Authority Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC);
• The PSAC oversees the development and operation of FirstNet, a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for first responders;
• FirstNet Authority is set to expire February 2027, and if enacted, H.R. 7386 would extend FirstNet through FY37.

91Ě˝»¨at Water Week

• 91Ě˝»¨once again joined dozens of other national organizations in Washington, D.C. as a partner in  held this year April 12-18;
• The week began with the National Stormwater Policy Forum where Government Affairs Manager Leah Harnish, joined representatives from the US Conference of Mayors, the American Society of Floodplain Managers, and the Florida Stormwater Association on a panel hosted by the Water Environment Federation, National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties to discuss stormwater and flood risk funding, and policy innovations at the federal, state, and local levels;
• The hallmark event continued with a fly in and plenary session where the keynote speaker was U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water Assistant Administrator Jessica Kramer;
• During her comments, Assistant Administrator Kramer stated that the Office of Water is getting back to the basics, focused on good stewardship including asset management and she announced the final WOTUS rule will be published in the coming months, spoke on the upcoming publication of the Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 and discussed EPA’s commitment to rural water challenges, as well as the industry’s workforce development and emerging contaminant management programs;
• Leah also joined 91Ě˝»¨Wisconsin chapter members Eric Dundee and Amanda Wegner on their visits to Capitol Hill.

ON THE HORIZON

(All times ET)

• April 20 at 3 p.m., the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing to review the ;
• April 21 at 10:15 a.m., the House Committee on Education and Workforce is scheduled to hold a markup of H.R. , ;
• April 22 at 10 a.m., the Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing to review the ;
• April 23 at 11 a.m., the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing to review the .

Explore ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s Member Advocacy Tools:

• Follow on and
• 91Ě˝»¨Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Resource page
• 119th Congress Public Policy Priorities & Policymaker Primers
• 91Ě˝»¨Washington Report
• Legislative Action Center
• “What is Public Works?”
• Tell Your Story
• Public Works Research 

“I am so pleased that 91Ě˝»¨has received this amazing recognition. This could not have happened without the dedication of our staff, their passion, entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, and the great partnership that we have with our 91Ě˝»¨Board of Directors and our more than 30,000 members,” said 91Ě˝»¨Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott D. Grayson, CAE. “Congratulations to our 91Ě˝»¨team!”

To be eligible, organizations are required to be a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with at least 15 employees and a minimum of one year in operation. The rankings were determined by a two-part evaluation: an in-depth review of workplace policies and practices (25%) and an employee survey measuring the overall workplace experience (75%). Final rankings were determined based on the combined results.

Workforce Research manages the survey process, analyzes the data, and determines the final rankings. The survey, completed by both staff and managers, consisted of 77 questions across nine categories. The categories were: Core Employee Experience, Your Job, Communication and Workplace Culture, Relationship with Your Manager, Training, Technology and Professional Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership of This Organization, Employee Benefits, and Work-Life Balance. Responses were scored on a 0–100% scale.

There were ten commonalities across the organizations that made this year’s list:

• I feel I am valued in this organization.
• I have confidence in the leadership of this organization.
• I like the type of work that I do.
• Most days, I feel I have made progress at work.
• I can trust what this organization tells me.
• At this organization, employees have fun at work.
• I feel part of a team working toward a shared goal.
• My pay is fair for the work I perform.
• This organization treats me like a person, not a number.
• This organization provides as much ongoing training as I need.

For more information on this year’s The NonProfit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For program, visit .

Latest News

It’s Water Week

• April 12-18 is and 91Ě˝»¨is one of nearly two dozen participating associations supporting national fly-in activities in Washington, D.C.;
• The hallmark activity for the week is the policy fly-in where leaders from across the country connect with federal policymakers and agency partners on Capitol Hill;
• 91Ě˝»¨Director of Government and Public Affairs Andrea Eales and 91Ě˝»¨Government Affairs Manager Leah Harnish will participate in multiple activities throughout the week;
  • Leah will speak at the National Stormwater Policy Forum today
  • Leah will join 91Ě˝»¨members to visit Congressional offices and advocate for water policy priorities Tuesday
  • Leah and Andrea will join other water industry professionals at the Water Week plenary session and reception Tuesday
• More information and resources are available at the link above.

91Ě˝»¨Speaks at CIFA Conference

• Government Affairs Manager Leah Harnish spoke on a panel at the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities’ (CIFA) Summit on Water Infrastructure, April 9;
• Other panelists included:
  • Scott Berry, U.S. Water Alliance
  • Matt McKenna, National Association of Clean Water Agencies
  • Jarron Brady, Government Finance Officers Association
• The panel provided a federal update on the reauthorization of water infrastructure financing programs and insight into the FY27 budget.

WIPPES Act Passed by Senate

• 91Ě˝»¨joined 24 partner organizations in thanking Senate leaders on unanimous consent passage of the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act (S. 1092);
• If enacted into law, manufacturers would be required to label packaging for certain nonwoven wipes with a Do Not Flush label to help prevent clogging and damage to wastewater systems;
• 91Ě˝»¨has been a leader on this legislation for several years and is now focused on swift passage in the House as S. 1092 is sent back for its reconsideration.

91Ě˝»¨Submits FY 2027 Appropriations Priorities

• 91Ě˝»¨sent a letter to Congressional Appropriators and committee staff outlining public works funding priorities for FY27;
• The letter, among other things, calls for:
  • Continued funding for infrastructure programs at IIJA levels
  • Fully fund agencies and programs critical to emergency management, transportation, and water resources operations
• House and Senate appropriations committees are expected to begin putting out their budgets over the next month.

91Ě˝»¨Participates in First-ever National TIM Training Day

• Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster hosted, and participated in, the first-ever National Day of Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training, last week at the U.S. Dept. of Transportation;

• Two 91Ě˝»¨members from Howard County, MD; 91Ě˝»¨Director of Government and Public Affairs Andrea Eales; and more than 100 professionals from law enforcement, fire, towing, emergency communications, emergency medical services, transportation, and more received the 4-hour TIM training with numerous expert trainers and table-top exercises;
• Since 2015, 91Ě˝»¨has formally been a key partner to FHWA in supporting TIM training and has had an 91Ě˝»¨member serve on the TIM Executive Leadership Group, which coordinates best practices and strengthens national-level relationships amongst the TIM safety organizations;
• FHWA Administrator McMaster has made reaching the goal of 1 million people TIM-trained by the end of the Trump administration a top priority;
• 91Ě˝»¨will host a TIM training at the North American Snow Conference, April 29, in Cleveland;
• More public works professionals are being sought to be expert TIM trainers, for more information, contact Andrea at aeales@apwa.org.

CISA Issues Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Advisory

• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an advisory warning;
• The advisory addresses Iran-affiliated advanced persistent threat (APT) actors that are being monitored for exploitation activity targeting internet-facing operational technology (OT) devices:
  • It also emphasizes that the water/wastewater and energy sectors should be on increased alert for potential activity to compromise their operations
• U.S. organizations are advised to review the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and indicators of compromise (IOCs) provided in this advisory and implement the recommendations to reduce the risk of compromise.

FEMA BRIC Grant Application Period Now Open

• Applications are now being accepted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the ;
• $1B in grant funds are available through BRIC;
• The application period ends July 23;
• Interested applicants and sub applicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on ;
• Interested applicants should contact their FEMA Regional Office or visit the for further information.

91Ě˝»¨Government Affairs Hosts 3DEP Meeting

• 91Ě˝»¨Government Affairs hosted a meeting last week of the 3DEP Mapping Coalition;
• The group focuses on responding to the growing needs for current, high-quality topographic data and three-dimensional representations of the nation’s natural and constructed features, which aligns with the needs of public works professionals as they work to better mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters with reliable mapping tools;
• Among the participants were officials and representatives from the Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Society (USGS), American Society of Civil Engineers, International Association of Emergency Mangers, The Pew Charitable Trust, and U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization (U.S. GEO);
• 91Ě˝»¨has worked with the 50-plus member 3DEP coalition to emphasize the emergency management/first responder role of public works professionals pertaining to the design, distribution, and implementation of cutting-edge mapping technologies;
• Additionally, 91Ě˝»¨has partnered with 3DEP in submitting letters to Congress and across multiple Presidential administrations advocating about the importance of funding for 3DEP mapping, including:
  • A from Members of Congress to the U.S. House Subcommittee for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies for 3DEP funding in the FY27 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

91Ě˝»¨Comments on Department of Education Workforce Pell Grant Changes

• As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Department of Education had requested comments related to that agency’s expected July 1 implementation of changes to the Pell Grant program;
• 91Ě˝»¨CEO Scott Grayson weighed in on this request;
• “… we believe that shortening the eligibility timeframe to as little as eight weeks (150 hours) for programs to qualify for a Workforce Pell grant offers a tangible improvement over the current system. It stands to reason that allowing more individuals to consider programs which are shorter than the traditional 15-week minimum for current Pell eligibility, while still culminating in an industry-recognized, portable certificate, degree, or credential, has the potential to appeal to more people,” Grayson said in the letter;
• These changes would allow for shorter, eight-week programs to be eligible for Pell funding, rather than the traditional 15-week threshold, thus allowing for more training programs to qualify for Workforce Pell funding.

Department of Education Finalizes Workforce Readiness Definition

• To prioritize workforce readiness in federal grant competitions, the Trump Administration has updated definitional terms to include adult learners and incorporated mentorships as an option for work-based learning;
• Read about these changes .

On the Horizon

(All times ET)

• April 15 at 11 a.m., the Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing, ;
• April 16 at 2 p.m., the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing to review the .

Explore ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s Member Advocacy Tools:

• Follow on and
• 91Ě˝»¨Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Resource page
• 119th Congress Public Policy Priorities & Policymaker Primers
• 91Ě˝»¨Washington Report
• Legislative Action Center
• “What is Public Works?”
• Tell Your Story
• Public Works Research 

“Transportation is one of, if not the most, visible parts of public works. Every day, millions of people travel on roads we maintain, cross bridges we inspect, and walk along sidewalks and trails we help design and maintain. What they rarely see are the professionals behind the scenes—reviewing crash data, adjusting signal timing, repairing guardrails, setting up work zones, plowing snow before dawn, or responding to emergency closures,” said 91Ě˝»¨President Vic Bianes, PE, in this month’s President’s Message.

Here’s a taste of what else is in this packed issue:

• 91Ě˝»¨member Megan Patent-Nygren shares how can help manage traffic.
• Member Tony Roos writes about a good way for communities thinking about installing their first roundabout. !
• Looking for ideas on how to have safer streets? Member Steve L. Naber tells how .

And as always, there’s more, so .

A Preview of Next Month’s 91Ě˝»¨Reporter

The May issue is a special double issue packed full of info about the future of public works. Plus the Top 10 Public Works Leaders of the Year will be revealed, as well as candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election! Don’t miss it.

The next edition of the Ottawa Report is scheduled to be sent at the end of April.

Latest News

Reminder: Complete Buy Canadian Questionnaire

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) is gathering input from construction stakeholders across Canada. They want to hear directly from industry professionals about sourcing decisions, barriers to using Canadian and interprovincial suppliers, and readiness to shift toward domestic products. The questionnaire now closes on April 30, and takes approximately 13 minutes to complete.

If you have not yet completed it, you can access the questionnaire here: .

CPWA’s input is important and will help inform ongoing federal analysis and the development of HICC’s Buy Canadian policy. Thank you in advance for your time and participation.

Major Housing and Infrastructure Announcement in Ontario

On March 30, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister Gregor Robertson , improve affordability, and invest in the infrastructure communities need to grow. As part of this partnership, we have reached an agreement with Ontario on the Build Communities Strong Fund. This fund will provide a combined $8.8 billion over 10 years to invest in housing enabling infrastructure and post-secondary related infrastructure in Ontario, while substantially lowering development charges in the province.

Development charges (DC) will be reduced by up to 50 percent for three years in Ontario’s largest and fastest-growing cities, covering approximately 80 percent of the province’s population. Reducing these levies will accelerate home building across the province. Municipalities that have already reduced residential DCs will have these recognized, provided they maintain the reductions for a three-year period. Ontario is committing to not levy other taxes that hinder the housing supply for three years.

As a part of this deal, Ontario and Canada have concluded negotiations on the delivery of federal support for several major public transit projects, including:

• The Ontario Line
• Eglinton Crosstown West Extension
• Scarborough Subway Extension
• Yonge North Subway Extension
• Hamilton Light Rail Transit network
• Waterfront East Transit ($1 billion federal contribution to be matched by Ontario/Toronto, to be funded via Canada Public Transit Fund)
• A signal of support for ongoing discussions around GO Expansion (GO 2.0)

The $8.8 billion towards housing and education infrastructure will be used for projects such as water/wastewater, transit systems, local roads, parks and recreation, and academic/student buildings.

In addition to Development Charges, requirements for this funding include:

• Supporting Canadian workers and business by encouraging the use of Canadian suppliers, content, and materials.
• Supporting good jobs and a strong workforce through factoring in the use of unionized labour and encouraging the leveraging of the Red Seal Program.
• Identifying employment opportunities through Community Employment Benefit Agreements.
• Supporting climate resilience and climate action and competitiveness in community infrastructure.

Today’s announcement is said to support almost 90,000 well-paying careers and inject more than $10 billion into Canada’s GDP.

Canada and Alberta Sign Infrastructure MOU

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta a new approach to accelerate major infrastructure development as part of Canada’s broader effort to build a more resilient, diversified economy. A draft Canada–Alberta Co‑operation Agreement on Environmental and Impact Assessment has been released for a 21‑day public consultation period.

The proposed agreement introduces a “one project, one review” assessment model for major infrastructure projects in Alberta. This streamlined process is intended to reduce duplication between federal and provincial reviews, enabling projects to move forward more quickly while maintaining strong environmental standards and respecting Indigenous rights.

The agreement is designed to support the development of strategic infrastructure, including energy pipelines, rail infrastructure, power generation facilities, and an integrated and expanded electricity transmission grid. By modernizing and accelerating infrastructure approvals, Canada and Alberta seek to attract investment, create thousands of high‑paying jobs, and strengthen Canada’s position as a global energy supplier.

Parliamentary Business

Senate Committee Reviews Climate Policy Progress

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources examined the 2025 Progress Report on Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, with testimony from senior officials at Environment and Climate Change Canada emphasizing climate resilience and the economic costs of inaction. During questioning by senators, the Assistant Deputy Minister at Environment and Climate Change Canada, Alison McDermott, underscored that the government closely tracks these costs, citing figures from the Insurance Bureau of Canada showing that extreme weather events caused in insured losses in 2024, the most destructive year in Canadian history, and an additional $2.4 billion in losses in 2025. She noted that these impacts inform federal decision‑making and help justify investments in adaptation, including $6.8 billion dedicated to addressing climate risks such as wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. The meeting reflected on the focus on disaster risk reduction, adaptation spending, and protecting communities and the economy against escalating climate impacts.

Federal Funding Awarded

Public Safety Canada Announces Funding for Search and Rescue Projects

Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Eleanor Olszewski, has launched a call for proposals under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF).

The SAR NIF provides up to $6.5 million annually to support new and ongoing projects that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and innovation of SAR activities across Canada, including both prevention and emergency response.

In addition, the federal government announced a one-time investment of . These projects will strengthen SAR capacity nationwide by improving training, leadership, governance, and volunteer recruitment and retention, as well as by enhancing community-level response capabilities and advancing tools that improve coordination and prevention.

Federal Government and New Brunswick Invest in Wastewater Infrastructure

In an effort to expedite home development, the Government of Canada, along with provincial and municipal partners, is investing over to upgrade wastewater infrastructure. The funding will support a new pumping station and sewer upgrades, enabling a mixed use development with up to 500 new housing units. The project unlocks infrastructure needed for large scale housing construction.

Federal Government Invests in Toronto Infrastructure

The Government of Canada is investing over in the City of Toronto through the community stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund to strengthen core infrastructure that supports housing growth and livable communities. The funding will help improve public transit accessibility, including upgrades to subway stations through the Toronto Transit Commission’s Easier Access Program, such as elevators, accessible doors, and enhanced wayfinding.

Federal Government Invests in Water Infrastructure Upgrades for Newfoundland

The Government of Canada, together with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and municipal partners, is investing over to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure in ten municipalities across western Newfoundland. The funding supports ten projects aimed at strengthening essential municipal systems needed for future housing growth.

Federal Government and Transdev Canada Invest in Electric Transit

As part of Canada’s transition to a net-zero future, the federal government is supporting the electrification of public transit and school bus fleets. Transdev Canada received over from the Zero Emission Transit Fund to develop an electrification plan for its Ontario school bus fleet, strengthening its readiness for zero-emission deployment. The company already operates more than 100 electric school buses nationwide and has been investing in electric school transportation since 2016.

Build Canada Homes Accelerates Affordable Housing in New Brunswick

In partnership with the Province of New Brunswick, the federal government is investing $150 million through the Build Canada Homes initiative to support the rapid construction of up to shovel ready affordable homes, with the potential to expand to 1,500. The governments will work with municipalities to remove construction barriers, including expedited permitting, reduced or waived development fees, and temporary property tax relief where available. Approximately 30 percent of the homes will be built in small and rural communities, supporting construction activity beyond major urban centres.

91Ě˝»¨has created a toolkit to help you celebrate the event and recognize public works professionals as first responders.

Checklist to Get Started

• Download the National First Responders Day (NFRD) sample proclamation. Add your town/municipality/province/territory name to the designated places and submit the request to your lieutenant governor’s or commissioner’s office. Note: Many offices require 30 days to process a request.
• Download MP3 files of 15- and 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that share quick, impactful NFRD messages. Consider sharing these PSAs with local radio and TV stations. We’ve created a How To Request a PSA document to help you get started. Or use these PSA scripts to record your public works director reading them for sharing on your website and social media.
  • 15-second PSA, female voice
  • 15-second PSA, male voice
  • 30-second PSA, female voice
  • 30-second PSA, male voice
• Download the Public Works First Responder symbol. Note: The file named 1Ă—1 Public Works First Responder Symbol is a square shape, which works well for social media posts.
• Gather photos or video clips of your team serving as first responders in your community. Example photos would include crews removing trees and limbs from roadways after a storm, public works professionals putting up barriers in preparation for a public event, or snowplow drivers clearing roads during winter weather. Use these photos or video clips in social media posts leading up to and on May 1.
• Download NFRD rectangular and square photo frames for use on social media. Then, create a schedule for social media posts in support of NFRD. NFRD is on a Friday, so you might consider the following schedule:
  • April 24: Post a one-week-out message that shares how your agency will be celebrating NFRD. If you plan on posting regularly leading up to NFRD, share that message.
  • April 30: Post a Throwback Thursday message that reminds people of a time when your agency served as first responders in your community. Include the hashtag #TBT or #ThrowbackThursday.
  • May 1: Post two or three times throughout the day. Consider kicking the day off by sharing ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s video featuring 91Ě˝»¨President Vic Bianes, PE (video link to be added soon). Or record your public works director reading this script for sharing on your website and social media. See below for sample posts.
  • Remember to include one or more of the following hashtags in your posts: #FirstResponders, #FirstRespondersDay, #NFRD.
• Download and print the “Why recognize public works professionals as First Responders?” flyer. Take copies to your city council meeting in May. Ask your council members to support National First Responders Day by issuing a resolution recognizing that public works professionals are first responders.
• Download our sample recognition email copy. This casual email greeting offers quick and easy messaging for you to use when communicating with your teams about observing NFRD. You can also customize it to mention things your agency is doing as part of your NFRD celebrations.

Sample Social Media Posts

Pre-NFRD

Next Friday is National First Responders Day. To celebrate, this week we’ll be sharing stories from our team about times they’ve served as first responders. Listen as [name of person] talks about responding to [details of event] during the [season] of [year]. #FirstResponders [Consider customizing this post based on the content]

Day-of

Did you know that public works professionals are first responders?

[Post 91Ě˝»¨President Vic Bianes’ video message or a video featuring someone from your team.]

#FirstResponders

Today, we celebrate National First Responders Day! We’re proud to serve the people of [town/city name] as first responders alongside firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, 911 operators, paramedics, and other emergency personnel. #FirstResponders

For National First Responders Day, we’d like to show you how [town/city name] Public Works Department provides vital support to emergency response partners, helping protect and restore essential services after an emergency. Check out photos of our team in action in [year or month if in this year]. #FirstResponders

[Town/city name] Public Works Department is often the first in and last out when disaster strikes, clearing the way for EMS and ensuring essential services continue. #FirstResponders
There’s no better way to show your pride in public works as #FirstResponders than to wear it! Check out our full line of bold and bright First Responder gear in the today.

Additional Resources

Visit our Public Works as First Responders page for more information and resources about why public works professionals deserve this recognition and what you can do to help raise awareness.

National Public Works Week (NPWW) is May 17–23. We’re excited to share resources that will ensure your chapter’s NPWW celebrations shine! Visit www.apwa.org/npww to see what’s available, including the . We encourage poster orders to be placed by April 15 to ensure timely delivery.

By working together, we can make more noise during NPWW! We encourage you to:

• Submit a proclamation to your state governor’s or local mayor’s office. Or both!
• Use our official hashtag #NPWW in all your social media posts. Consider using a combination of any of the following hashtags: #PoweredbyCommunity, #RootedinService, #WeArePublicWorks, #PeopleMatter, and #PublicWorksService.
• Share with 91Ě˝»¨national what your chapter is planning by filling out this brief .

Looking for a little inspiration in planning your NPWW celebrations? Questions may be sent to Aleatha Ezra.

91Ě˝»¨Awards Program – PACE

Nominations for the 91Ě˝»¨Awards Program are now open FOR the Presidential Acknowledgment for Chapter Excellence (PACE), due June 1.

Click here to submit a nomination! Questions can be sent to Cameron Harmeyer at charmeyer@apwa.org.

New Initiatives Program Applications Due April 15!

The window to submit funding proposals to ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s New Initiatives Program remains open.

At its core, this program exists to support entrepreneurial ideas that enhance the value of the experiences, services, education, and tools 91Ě˝»¨provides. If you’ve been dreaming about a project that could strengthen your chapter, elevate public awareness, support frontline staff, advance technology, or contribute to any of ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s strategic priorities—this is your moment.

Click here to complete a brief application outlining your concept, its purpose, and your operational plan. Reminder: applications are due April 15, and we’ll announce awardees by May 21.

91Ě˝»¨Committees and Councils

91Ě˝»¨is soliciting nominations for appointments to national-level committees, councils, and external representation groups for the 2026–27 year. For more information, please visit the nominations page on ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s website. The nomination deadline is March 31.

Envision SP Training

Advance your expertise in sustainable infrastructure through ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s live online Envision SP Training, delivered in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). This four-day program, held May 4–7, prepares participants to apply Envision principles to real-world projects and qualifies them to sit for the ENV SP certification exam. Exam fees are included with registration.

Visit our webpage here for more information or to register.

Volunteer Opportunity: Stormwater Microcredentials

91Ě˝»¨is recruiting stormwater subject matter experts to contribute to the development of our new Stormwater Microcredentials. Volunteer opportunities are available in two areas:

• Education Content Development—Help shape the learning materials.
• Exam Item Writing—Help create and review exam questions.

Ideal volunteers include stormwater professionals in the public or private sector who work with stormwater programs or infrastructure. Training is provided—no prior experience required. Volunteers may serve in one role only.

For questions, contact certification@apwa.org.

Changes to the Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) Program

91Ě˝»¨is excited to announce an update to the Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) program that will launch in 2027. This update aligns ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s stormwater education and credentialing, providing better overall experience for members and stormwater professionals.

Those applying under the current CSM program should be aware of the following:

• Eligibility applications will be accepted through June 30, 2026.
• After this date, applications will pause until the new CSM program launches in 2027.
• This transition period ensures that all eligible applicants have time to complete the current exam process.

For those who have already been approved for eligibility, the existing application and expiration date will remain valid. Once earned, the CSM credential will continue to be recognized under the new program, and it will be maintained through the regular recertification process. Learn more about the new stormwater credentials.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact certification@apwa.org.

91Ě˝»¨Accreditation Announcements

Accreditation is the mark of professionalism indicating a public works agency has made the commitment to continuous improvement in delivering public works operations and services to their community. Accreditation recognizes an agency’s policies, procedures, and practices, which have been evaluated against nationally-recognized management practices determined to be appropriate for that specific agency.

The following public works agencies were accredited in February 2026:

Region 5

• Crystal Lake, Illinois Public Works Department – 3rd accreditation

Region 7

• Houston, Texas Public Works Department – 4th accreditation

To help chapters recognize and celebrate accredited and re-accredited agencies, we have provided a toolbox to help. The toolbox information can be found here: Promote 91Ě˝»¨Accreditation: Chapter Outreach Resources.

For further information on ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s accreditation program, please feel free to contact Jeanette Klamm, Associate Director of Credentialing at accreditation@apwa.org.

Two New Chapter Outreach Resources!

Click Listen, & Learn (CLL)—´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s new CLL Toolbox shows how your chapter or agency can leverage CLLs in your chapter education programming/staff development plan. Click here to view the CLL Toolbox.

91Ě˝»¨Accreditation—Learn how you can promote the accreditation program and celebrate accredited agencies within their regions. Inspire agencies to explore self-assessment and accreditation, raising the standard for public works excellence across North America. Click here to learn more.

Host a Certificate Program at Your Chapter!

Discover the many benefits of hosting a certificate program at your chapter and get everything you need to put on a successful event. Click here to learn more.

Questions can be sent to education@apwa.org.

Chapter Special Event Insurance Update

91Ě˝»¨has secured a blanket insurance policy covering Roadeos and related types of events from January 15, 2026, through January 14, 2027.

We’ve negotiated a low, flat cost of $960 per event, providing protection for participants and peace of mind for your chapter. 91Ě˝»¨will invoice the chapter/branch treasurer unless an alternate billing contact has been designated.

Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out the Chapter/Branch Roadeo Information Form at least 30 days prior to your event.
2. Submit the form at least 30 days prior to your event start date to chapterservices@apwa.org.
3. You’ll receive a certificate of insurance within 48 hours of submission.

Questions can be sent to chapterservices@apwa.org.

91Ě˝»¨Monthly Chapter Leader Training

The next 91Ě˝»¨Chapter Leader Training will be held on April 13 at noon central time. The topic will be “What’s New in 91Ě˝»¨Credentialing: Chapter Resources and Opportunities.”

Past Chapter Leader Training calls can be viewed by .

Invitations are sent to all chapter leaders approximately three weeks prior to the call. Questions can be sent to Jill Wilbeck.

Coming Soon: YP Summit Complimentary Registrations

91Ě˝»¨will continue offering complimentary registrations for the Young Professional (YP) Summit in 2026. This year’s goal is to use all 62 complimentary registrations and continue increasing overall attendance at the Summit.

To help achieve this, we are adjusting the process:

• Chapters will have until April 30 to identify a Young Professional from their chapter to receive complimentary registration.
• Beginning May 1, any remaining complimentary registrations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis by chapter.
• All applicants will complete an online intake form, which outlines eligibility requirements and serves as the tracking method for submissions.

Additional details will be shared with Chapter Leaders later this month. If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Weber.

If you need assistance finding information, contact 91Ě˝»¨Director of Government and Public Affairs Andrea Eales at aeales@apwa.org. Follow 91Ě˝»¨Government Affairs on and for timely updates.

March 23, 2026

Latest News

91Ě˝»¨Public Policy Survey Closes April 1

• What should be ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s public policy priorities for the next Congress?;
• Share your vision in our ;
• The public policy priority documents are ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s advocacy roadmap for working with Congress and federal agencies on key legislation and regulations impacting public works;
• ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s current policy priorities are Emergency Management, Transportation, and Water Resiliency;
• Contact Andrea at aeales@apwa.org with questions.

U.S. Senate Passes WIPPES Act

• The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES) won unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate over the weekend;
• 91Ě˝»¨is a longtime supporter of this legislation, , as it seeks to protect our wastewater infrastructure;
• In the previous Congress, 91Ě˝»¨actively promoted the WIPPES Act and strongly advocated for its passage, along with public and private sector partners, and industry;
• We supported proposed changes to packaging and labeling to inform consumers and help prevent damage to our wastewater systems by making sure non-flushable wipes are accurately labeled;
• The bill now goes to the House, which passed WIPPES legislation in the previous Congress.

U.S. Senate Vote Expected on DHS Secretary Nomination

• The U.S. Senate is expected to vote, as soon as today, on the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin (OK) to serve as the next Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary;
• Last week, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the nomination;
• Current DHS Secretary Krisit Noem will leave the position March 31.

White House Releases National Policy AI Recommendations

• The White House has released a , which offers the Trump administration’s recommendations to navigate AI challenges;
• This includes calling on Congress to preempt state laws that regulate the way models are developed, or that may penalize companies for how their AI is utilized by outside parties.

FEMA Announces BRIC Grant Program Update

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued an update on the status of the ;
• BRIC applicants and recipients are to contact their with questions.

FEMA Announces Millions for FIFA World Cup 2026 Security

• FEMA has announced that $625M has been awarded for the 11 cities hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to enhance security preparations ahead of the tournament;
• Funding ranges from $32.3M for Seattle to $73.7M for Miami;
• This money, which is available via the allows state and local officials to hold operational exercises and strengthen cybersecurity defenses.

Reminder to FIFA Host Cities–Check out Available FTA Resources

• The Federal Transit Admin. (FTA) has announced other resources to support transit in cities hosting FIFA World Cup events;
• Resources include:
  • 2026 World Cup Public Transportation
  • FTA World Cup Funding Grant-Making
  • March 11 .

CISA Issues Advisory following Recent Cyberattack Against U.S. Organization

• Following a recent cyberattack against a United States-based company, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released an advisory urging ;
• The Stryker Corporation was hit by a cyberattack, March 11, prompting CISA to advise organizations to implement Microsoft’s newly released .

91Ě˝»¨Government Affairs Presenting at Iowa Chapter Spring Conference

• 91Ě˝»¨Sr. Government Affairs Manager Marty Williams and Government Affairs Manager Leah Harnish will be presenting during the at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines, March 25-27;
• If your chapter is interested in having Government Affairs participate in your chapter’s upcoming event, contact Andrea at aeales@apwa.org.

On the Horizon

(All times ET)

• March 25 at 10 a.m., the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing, ;
• March 26 at 10 a.m., the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on ;
• March 26 at 10:15 a.m., the House Energy and Commerce committee has a hearing, ;
• March 26 at 2 p.m., the House Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing, .

Explore ´ˇ±Ę°Â´ˇâ€™s Member Advocacy Tools:

• Follow on and
• 91Ě˝»¨Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Resource page
• 119th Congress Public Policy Priorities & Policymaker Primers
• 91Ě˝»¨Washington Report
• Legislative Action Center
• “What is Public Works?”
• Tell Your Story
• Public Works Research