Valley Partnership’s January 20 breakfast is going to be a twist on the typical forecast popular this time of year.

This month’s panel will discuss how the state of Arizona is preparing for President-Elect Trump’s Infrastructure Plan, and how the real estate development industry will benefit from these opportunities across the Valley.

The panel will feature Scott Smith, CEO of Valley Metro; John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation; Walter Smith of 202 Partners; Jim Rounds of Rounds Consulting; and moderating the panel will be former US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters.

Both Rounds and Peters are members of the Arizona Surface Transportation Funding Task Force.

“How we grow depends upon our transportation infrastructure. In the coming months the Arizona Legislature will hear the recommendations from the Arizona Surface Transportation Funding Task Force and we will also know more about the incoming Presidential Administration’s policies. We support the need to see significant investment in our country’s infrastructure,” said Cheryl Lombard, CEO and president of Valley Partnership. “This can be a major catalyst for Arizona infrastructure development and development in general. This panel is well-positioned to explain what Valley business, economic development and policy leaders should be doing to prepare to capitalize on this plan.

“POETUS Trump’s “America’s Infrastructure First” policy includes many issues that Arizona leaders are already focused on, including transportation, clean water and a modern and reliable electricity grid, among others. The plan also touches on leveraging non-traditional funding, including public-private partnerships (P3). Our panel will discuss how Arizona can best prepare to work within the framework of Trump’s plan for maximum success for our state and how P3 can play a role in expediting construction as well as facilitate long term improvements/maintenance,” Lombard said.

Registration begins at 7 a.m.; program begins at 7:45 a.m.

To register, please visit www.valleypartnership.org and click on the “Monthly Breakfast” tab. For more information, please contact Carrie Martin at 602.266.7844 or cmartin@valleypartnership.org.