Investments in Infrastructure. To assist in meeting the critical need for investments and improvements to existing infrastructure in water, sewer, and broadband, the Fiscal Recovery Funds provide funds to State, local, and Tribal governments to make necessary investments in these sectors. The interim final rule outlines eligible uses within each category, allowing for a broad range of necessary investments in projects that improve access to clean drinking water, improve wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems, and provide access to high-quality broadband service. Necessary investments are designed to provide an adequate minimum level of service and are unlikely to be made using private sources of funds. Necessary investments include projects that are required to maintain a level of service that, at least, meets applicable health-based standards, taking into account resilience to climate change, or establishes or improves broadband service to unserved or underserved populations to reach an adequate level to permit a household to work or attend school, and that are unlikely to be met with private sources of funds.124 It is important that necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure be carried out in ways that produce high-quality infrastructure, avert disruptive and costly delays, and promote efficiency. Treasury encourages recipients to 124 Treasury notes that using funds to support or oppose collective bargaining would not be included as part of ‘‘necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.’’ ensure that water, sewer, and broadband projects use strong labor standards, including project labor agreements and community benefits agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions, not only to promote effective and efficient delivery of high-quality infrastructure projects but also to support the economic recovery through strong employment opportunities for workers. Using these practices in construction projects may help to ensure a reliable supply of skilled labor that would minimize disruptions, such as those associated with labor disputes or workplace injuries. To provide public transparency on whether projects are using practices that promote on-time and on-budget delivery, Treasury will seek information from recipients on their workforce plans and practices related to water, sewer, and broadband projects undertaken with Fiscal Recovery Funds. Treasury will provide additional guidance and ins...
Investments in Infrastructure. Treasury Guidance specifies that Fiscal Recovery Funds may be used to improve access to clean drinking water, improve wastewater and stormwater infrastructure systems, and provide access to high-quality broadband services.12
Investments in Infrastructure. Under this project, considerable investments are to be made in infrastructure at Abalone Caye. This is TIDE’s base of operations for the management of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and is ideally situated close to the centre of the reserve. In recent years, Abalone Caye has been subject to rapid beach erosion, which threatens the integrity of the island and the ranger station. Thus, some justification for investment in the facility is required. Due to the strategic location of Abalone Caye for law enforcement, the fact that TIDE owns the island and the presence of existing infrastructure there, TIDE wished to save the island from erosion if possible. In 2011, TIDE partnered with engineers from Texas A&M University to conduct a wave modeling exercise. This exercise, together with consultation with CISCO Construction, determined that the Caye could be saved by constructing an artificial stone barrier around the island. Later that year, TIDE began to construct this barrier using Gabion baskets filled with rocks imported from the mainland. The cost of this work was approximately US$12,500. TIDE rangers and volunteers have provided the labor at no additional cost. Erosion on the segment of the island adjacent to the wall, which had previously been the most rapidly eroding, appears to have ceased. In addition, we are seeing a significant increase in juvenile fish in this area, which seems to be serving as nursery for juvenile fish. The work is still on going and TIDE will continue to implement the restoration plan for Abalone Caye. The cost of this work, excluding labor, is estimated at US$40,000, a portion of which will be requested from KfW in AOP2. TIDE rangers and volunteers will continue to provide labor as in kind contributions. In the face of global sea level rise, the future of the island in 50 - 100 years is uncertain. However, given the findings of the consultations and the result of the work that has been conducted so far, we are confident that the life of the Caye can be extended sufficiently to justify investment in the infrastructure (i.e. ≥20 years).
