Unlocking Funding: Effective Communication for Solving Water Issues

The Water Leadership Institute (WLI) developed a four-part webcast series on The Intersection of Leadership and Communication of 12 Water Challenges.

Webcast 2:  Unlocking Funding: Effective Communication for Solving Water Issues!

Key into WLI2024’s engaging webinar, “Unlocking Funding: Effective Communication for Solving Water Issues!

This three-segment webcast holds the key to the topics of “Aging Infrastructure”, “Construction and Budget Management”, and “Funding and Resource Allocation.” Whether you're dealing with historical data issues, managing change orders, or unlocking financial support, these presentations will provide you with various insights needed for success.

  • From Pipes to People: Ensuring Equity in Addressing Aging Infrastructure
  • Construction and Budget Management: From Thorn to Thrive - Change Orders & How to Handle Them
  • Funding and Resource Allocation: The challenge of securing adequate funding for water infrastructure projects and operations is a recurring theme, with mentions of the need for prioritizing water infrastructure over other projects.

Registration Free of Cost

For questions, please email WLI@wef.org 

You can earn 1.5 General Contact Hours by attending this webcast or watching the recording in the WEF Learning Center after the live date.  

Learn more about all the Webcasts in the WLI Intersection of Leadership and Communication of 12 Water Challenges Webcast Series at www.wef.org/WLI24WaterChallenges

·         2:00 p.m. ET  From Pipes to People: Ensuring Equity in Addressing Aging Infrastructure

Asset Management Plans (AMPs) increasingly play a crucial role in managing aging infrastructure by helping utilities make informed decisions about maintaining, repairing, or replacing assets. To address this issue, water industry leaders must prioritize data collection techniques that emphasize community engagement. Engaging with key stakeholders early in AMP development and continuing engagement through capital planning ensures an inclusive decision-making process that meets the infrastructure needs of all end users. It is recommended that leaders adopt an AMP framework that prioritizes aging infrastructure improvements based on a mix of traditional factors and historically ignored economic/environmental factors. In this portion, a framework for identifying and prioritizing aging infrastructure needs through the lens of inclusivity and engagement is recommended.

Developed and Delivered by: Alyssa Ramsey, Jacobs; Amro Hassanein, Yokogawa Corporation of America; Anna Hermes, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District; Grace Vogel Sanders, Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans; Miguel Miranda, DC Water; Razhan Kareem, Hazen and Sawyer; and  Woinshet Tegegne, DC Water
Team Mentor: Geroge Kansas, HDR

  • 2:30 p.m. ET  Construction and Budget Management: From Thorn to Thrive - Change Orders & How to Handle Them

    Learn how to navigate and manage change orders effectively, turning potential challenges into triumph stories.  Don’t miss out on practical tips to keep your projects on track.

Developed and Delivered by: Lacory Walker, Toho Water Authority; Justin Nii, City and County of Honolulu; Katharine Fisher, MS Consultants; Mackenzie App, M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.; Niloufar Gharoon, Trussell Technologies; Seth Jensen, City of Auburn, NY; and Shikea Brown, Huntsville Utilities
Team Mentor: Shawn Heselton, HRSD

·      3:00 p.m. ET Funding and Resource Allocation: The challenge of securing adequate funding for water infrastructure projects and operations is a recurring theme, with mentions of the need for prioritizing water infrastructure over other projects.

This webinar is all about the FUND-amentals! Join us as we discuss the challenges of navigating funding options and effectively communicating priorities to stakeholders. Designed for water utility staff, governments, consultants, and funders, this webinar will identify best practices highlighting successful technical assistance programs that support utilities’ access to funding. In addition, this engaging session will highlight influential strategies for communicating funding priorities and goals to diverse stakeholder groups. Webinar attendees will be introduced to the basics of technical assistance programs and gain a greater appreciation for the importance of communication and messaging in water funding allocation. Don’t miss it – register today!


Developed and Delivered by: Ayako Tischler, Moonshot Missions; Christina Davis, Loudon Water; Elaine Hung, Trinity River Authority of Texas; Gurjot Kohli, Stantec; Helen Ellis, Gwinnett County; Jonah Parks, Alexandria Renew Enterprises; and Veronica Horvath, CDM Smith
Team Mentor: Lou Storino, MWRD

 
This series was developed as part of the final project for the Water Leadership Institute (WLI) 2024 and will take place throughout August 2024.  The WLI 2024 consists of 84 participants from around the US, Canada, and Ghana.