Infrastructure investment tops the list of common priorities for COVID recovery among mayors surveyed.
A new survey of 124 mayors found that "while nearly all mayors expect drops in their operating budgets in the next 12-18 months due to COVID-19, most mayors also believe investing in infrastructure and technology can spur an economic recovery," reports Chris Teale.
Conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Siemens USA, the survey found 69% of participant mayors cited infrastructure as the investment priority as a top of mind means spur economic growth.
"As cities look to the post-COVID future, many leaders have emphasized that investing in transportation infrastructure is one major way to not only stimulate economic growth and get people back to work, but also improve residents’ lives and rebuild what the vast majority have agreed is crumbling infrastructure," writes Teale. Teale reports that 67% of mayors opine that it's time to invest in transit infrastructure as a way of contributing to long-term goals.
As Teale points out, "the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included $25 billion in emergency federal funding for public transportation systems, but so far no further help has been forthcoming." Something all 124 mayors agreed upon: corporations can help in recovery through capital investments.
FULL STORY: Mayors to prioritize infrastructure, tech investments in COVID recovery: survey
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