CIS and UG are partnering to tackle combined sewer, flooding, and water quality challenges through community-based infrastructure projects.
ANN ARBOR, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UG has contracted CIS, the nation’s leading builder of resilient infrastructure, to manage and execute the delivery of stormwater, separation of combined sewer, and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects. To inform the program’s delivery approach, CIS has worked with the UG to develop a “Community-Based Partnership (CBP) that incorporates local capacity development and utilization, along with performance-based project delivery.”
The CBP program aims to enhance stormwater management and reduce combined sewer overflows while delivering a range of socioeconomic benefits. One key aspect of the program is its emphasis on local workforce development, focusing on using and expanding the local labor and contractor pool to construct and maintain CBP projects. Many areas in Wyandotte County, which have faced persistent flooding, are economically disadvantaged but possess significant growth potential. This creates an opportunity to stimulate local economic development through these targeted investments.
Upgrading water infrastructure throughout Wyandotte County is essential to build resilience against the growing frequency of extreme weather events such as floods. The region’s aging pipelines and treatment facilities are prone to leaks, overflows, and inefficiencies, threatening water quality and availability. Modernizing these systems will improve water resource management and conservation, addressing challenges posed by population growth and climate change. This infrastructure improvement is crucial for protecting public health, meeting regulatory requirements, and ensuring economic stability.
CIS uses its proven project delivery platform to invest upfront in community-based infrastructure while prioritizing local business capacity development. By developing local expertise and lowering barriers to entry for local businesses, CIS acts as a catalyst to implement projects at scale and lower costs. CIS also enhances efficiency in placement of infrastructure, design, procurement, and capital management. This approach integrates the public’s environmental, regulatory, and socioeconomic goals, with local economic development in the region.
“CBPs represent an innovative alternative to traditional contracting models for local government projects,” said Sanjiv K Sinha, P.E., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of CIS. “While both the public and private sectors have their strengths and weaknesses, traditional contracting models don’t fully leverage them. CBPs, however, are specifically designed to maximize the strengths of both sectors. Unlike traditional approaches, CBPs ensure that benefits are concentrated within the community by awarding contracts locally and building the capacity of the local workforce, which is especially beneficial for underserved areas.”
In 2020, the UG entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs) resulting from inadequate stormwater capacity in the combined sewer system. As part of the agreement, the UG committed to investing approximately $900 million over the next 25 years to upgrade its sewer and stormwater infrastructure. This investment aims to create a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable system while ensuring compliance with Clean Water Act regulations and benefiting residents. The 25-year program, established as part of the consent decree, outlines the steps for meeting these goals. The CBP will support UG in fulfilling its consent decree obligations while also providing additional environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
“UG’s consent decree commitments demand a partner that can move with both speed and certainty,” said Greg Cannito, Chief Business Officer of CIS. “At CIS, we bring Surety of Execution—on cost and schedule. Through our performance-based approach, we complement UG’s existing capabilities so that it not only meets its consent decree milestones but does so while strengthening local capacity and community resilience.”
More details on the CIS-UG Partnership can be found here: https://www.cisolutions.com/project/stormwater-utility-community-based-partnership-kansas/
About CIS
CIS is a national leader in the development and implementation of public infrastructure solutions, focusing on improving the environmental, economic, and social condition of the nation’s infrastructure through solutions that drive local economic development, regulatory compliance, reduction of public risk, and increased community investment and buy-in. CIS also offers related advisory expertise and services on topics including nature-based solutions, climate resilience, disaster prevention, environmental justice, green stormwater infrastructure, environmental finance, water affordability, and public trust. For more information, please visit www.cisolutions.com.
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Christine Nichols
Tel: 734-436-8173
