Conversations with Major Investment Leaders Back to Major Investments Conversations with Major Investment Leaders Introduction The Partnership for Public Service spoke with leaders of past and current major investment initiatives—from recovery programs that sought to address the Great Recession to current legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Our goal was to gather reflections and recommendations on how to implement these types of programs effectively. By documenting this knowledge, we aim to capture lessons learned that current and future major investments leaders can use in their own work. Below are excerpts from our conversations. John Porcari Former deputy secretary of transportation and former Maryland secretary of transportation John Porcari was the deputy secretary of transportation from 2009 to 2013, during the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which sought address the negative effects of the Great Recession. We spoke with Porcari about his experience implementing DOT programs that resulted from that legislation, as well as the similarities and differences between that implementation effort and current major federal investment initiatives. Conversation Highlights Agencies can support states and localities as they create grant applications by offering technical assistance and debriefing unsuccessful applicants to help them improve future applications. Federal leaders should elevate local and tribal priorities in their discussions with state officials to help ensure that formula funding is equitably distributed within states. Agencies should design project metrics that capture both outputs (such as number of bridges built) and outcomes (such as improvements to quality of life as a result of infrastructure projects), understanding that outcome metrics are often more complicated to capture. Mike Schmidt Director, CHIPS Program Office, Department of Commerce Mike Schmidt currently serves as the director of the CHIPS Program Office at the Department of Commerce. He previously led the implementation of the Child Tax Credit, which was expanded under the American Rescue Plan, at the Treasury Department. We spoke with him about how he approached setting up the CHIPS program, from establishing priorities to building a team. You can also read more about the work of Schmidt and his team in this Service to America Medals finalist profile. Conversation Highlights Building a strong team is crucial for implementing major investments. When launching programs, leaders should devote sufficient attention to recruiting and hiring staff. Successful collaboration and coordination with stakeholders requires outreach, but also rests on building a strong program that meets customers’ needs. Leaders should “treat bureaucracy as a dance partner, not as a roadblock.” Being nimble and finding ways to achieve objectives while being respectful of constraints and stakeholders is critical.
