To Drive Post-COVID Economic Recovery, Mayors Prioritize Infrastructure and Technology Investments, Study Finds

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Whereas a majority of U.S. mayors (94%) agree that their metropolis’s financial restoration relies on containing and stopping neighborhood unfold of the COVID-19 virus, investing in infrastructure to generate jobs and financial progress is the highest instant (69%) and long-term (71%) precedence for mayors, in response to “Infrastructure, Expertise and Mayors’ Priorities for Confronting a Well being, Financial and Societal Disaster,” a brand new U.S. Convention of Mayors (USCM) research carried out in partnership with Siemens USA by The Harris Ballot.

These priorities, nevertheless, are threatened by cities practically universally reporting declines of their working price range on account of the pandemic. Confronted by an unprecedented well being, financial and societal disaster attributable to COVID-19, the research showcases mayors’ collective perspective on the strengths and limits of America’s infrastructure in supporting continuity amid disaster, emergency response, financial restoration, ongoing sustainability objectives and the secure reopening of colleges, places of work, companies and different important establishments.

“This survey exhibits that mayors are extra dedicated than ever to embracing the sparks of innovation and expertise with better urgency to adapt, redefine and reimagine their cities with the intention to higher serve native residents and advance financial restoration,” mentioned Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA. “Siemens is proud to work with mayors throughout this nation to fight the challenges of COVID-19 and assist construct extra resilient, affluent communities. The worldwide pandemic has solely bolstered our perception that partnership between residents and their cities, partnership between mayors and cities, and partnerships between companies and the communities are important to transferring our nation ahead.”

“Mayors know that few issues can revitalize an financial system and a metropolis like investments in fashionable infrastructure and expertise,” mentioned USCM President and Louisville (KY) Mayor Greg Fischer. “We respect personal sector companions like Siemens who work with us to leverage our sources to make cities higher locations to stay and work. Rebuilding our infrastructure has been a constant precedence for mayors in cities massive and small, however our want is made solely extra pressing by the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why it’s so necessary for lawmakers in Washington to understand the severity of the price range disaster that cities are dealing with as a direct results of the virus. Our potential is barely restricted by the power to work to collectively to deal with these nice challenges.”

Key findings from this survey embody:

Practically all mayors surveyed (98%) anticipate their metropolis’s working price range to say no over the following 12-18 months, with two in three (66%) attributing all or many of the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayors’ instant high funding priorities for financial restoration are investing in infrastructure to generate jobs and for financial progress (69%) and increasing supply of digital/on-line metropolis companies (63%).
The vast majority of mayors (89%) say that cities must implement sensible applied sciences to assist staff return to work with confidence.
Greater than 9 in 10 mayors agree that funding in expertise to reimagine, rework, change, or adapt how industrial buildings are getting used is critical for the way forward for their metropolis (97%) and that funding in buildings/services continues to be mandatory for his or her metropolis regardless of some duties being carried out on-line throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (94%).
Two-thirds of mayors (67%) agree that now’s the very best time for his or her metropolis to put money into transit-related capital tasks to deal with longer-term wants, possible linked to a majority (92%) who agree that updating roads, signaling, sidewalks, or tunnels/bridges will assist convey again jobs and revitalize their metropolis’s financial system.
All mayors (100%) report that companies have a task to play in serving to to rebuild/revitalize their metropolis’s financial system, mostly by capital investments (69%).
In accordance with the survey, the overwhelming majority of mayors (94%) agree that the federal authorities ought to present emergency fiscal reduction for America’s cities to mitigate the price range shortfalls ensuing from COVID-19’s impression on their native economies. And, 86% say that with out monetary help from the federal authorities, the power of their metropolis’s financial system to bounce again might be considerably delayed.

Concerning the Examine

This survey was carried out on-line by The Harris Ballot on behalf of the U.S. Convention of Mayors and Siemens U.S.A., between August 24 – September 1, 2020 amongst 124 mayors of U.S. cities with a inhabitants dimension of 30,000 or extra. Outcomes weren’t weighted and are solely consultant of those that accomplished the survey.

About The U.S. Convention of Mayors

The U.S. Convention of Mayors is the official nonpartisan group of cities with populations of 30,000 or extra. Every year, throughout its annual convention, USCM approves a spread of resolutions. These coverage positions adopted collectively symbolize the views of the nation’s mayors and are distributed to the President of the US and Congress.

About Siemens Company

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a world powerhouse specializing in the areas of energy era and distribution, clever infrastructure for buildings and distributed vitality techniques, and automation and digitalization within the course of and manufacturing industries. By means of the individually managed firm Siemens Mobility, a number one provider of sensible mobility options for rail and street transport, Siemens is shaping the world marketplace for passenger and freight companies. On account of its majority stakes within the publicly listed firms Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Power, Siemens can be a world-leading provider of medical expertise and digital healthcare companies in addition to environmentally pleasant options for onshore and offshore wind energy era. For greater than 160 years, the corporate has innovated and invented applied sciences to assist American trade spanning manufacturing, vitality, healthcare and infrastructure. In fiscal 2019, Siemens USA reported income of $26.5 billion, together with $1.23 billion in exports, and employs roughly 50,000 folks all through all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

About The Harris Ballot

The Harris Ballot is likely one of the longest-running surveys within the U.S. monitoring public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now a part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a world consulting and market analysis agency that delivers social intelligence for transformational instances. We work with purchasers in three major areas: constructing twenty-first-century company fame, crafting model technique and efficiency monitoring, and incomes natural media by public relations analysis. Our mission is to offer insights and advisory to assist leaders make the very best choices doable. To be taught extra, please go to www.theharrispoll.com.