NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS - March 5, 2009 - Today, partners from law firm Arent Fox presented the first in a series of seven webinars organized by ZweigWhite and focused on information designed to help architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms interpret the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Working fast and close to home could be the best way for A/E firms to benefit from the $787 billion stimulus package, according to Craig Engle and Dan Renberg, partners from the 1,000-person law firm.
To be eligible for stimulus package money, contracts must be in place by late summer, 180 days after President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on February 17. States that miss the mid-August deadline will see the money they were supposed to get go to another state instead, Engle said.
"States are going to be under the gun," Engle said. "Local knowledge is key. An application for an airport or mass transit project is going to be more favorably looked at if XYZ Construction Co. steps up and says, 'We can do that.' Go back in your files to find projects that are already approved and say, 'We can do it.' You have to market yourself and say you're ready, willing, and able."
"Now is the time to get the proper application in the proper way so the projects get funded," he said. Nothing is simple here. Things are going to go wrong. There are gaps and overlaps in this bill, so it's important to be able to act quickly and react quickly. It's getting more complicated by the minute. The lobbying on Capitol Hill is over. That's irrelevant now."
Each subsequent installment in the webinar series will feature a live interview via webinar with a different industry expert who will provide a new perspective on the outlook for the A/E industry at large or will focus on a specific market The webinars will give listeners valuable insight into where money will be spent and how to be part of it.
The next webinar will be Tuesday, March 10 and features Gary LaGrange, President of the Port of New Orleans. Subsequent speakers include: D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, current president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and president of Klotz Associates; Kurt Ubbelohde, Vice President, Director of Federal Programs, Leo A. Daly; Frank M. Rapoport, Senior Partner, McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP; Scott Brenner, Consultant, Governmental Affairs and Public Policy, Akerman Senterfitt, and Kermit Baker, Chief Economist of the American Institute of Architects.
About ZweigWhite: ZweigWhite is the nation's leading source of business management services for architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms. The ZweigWhite team consists of experts in strategic business planning, business valuation, ownership transition, human resources management, finance and administration, mergers and acquisitions, market research, marketing, project management and project delivery methods who collectively produce a comprehensive suite of products and services, including newsletters, industry reports, executive training, business conferences, and advisory services covering virtually every aspect of firm management. The firm is headquartered in Natick, MA, with additional offices in, Chicago, IL and Washington, DC.
For further information, contact:
Claire Roderick Keerl
ckeerl@zweigwhite.com
ZweigWhite
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