MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown Area Partnership wants to talk infrastructure, and they want you to participate.
And when better than during Infrastructure Week, which kicks off Monday?
Tony Faini is helping spearhead the local initiative as chair of MAP’s Government Affairs Infrastructure Subcommittee.
“The different segments of infrastructure really are the building blocks of our economy. It’s how our workers not only get to work, but in many cases, where they work,” he said.
MAP has organized a pair of online panels.
The first, from noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesday, will take a look at local infrastructure, its future and how infrastructure projects get accomplished. Panelists will touch on topics ranging from broadband to roads to stormwater management.
From noon- 1 p.m. on Friday, a panel focusing on the importance of planning and public involvement will include representatives from the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization, the city of Morgantown’s Development Services office and the Monongalia County Planning office, among others.
For additional information, including details on how to register for the webinars and provide insight via an infrastructure survey, visit morgantownpartnership.com, click on “Events” and the day of the panel on the calendar.
Faini, who made the rounds this week picking up Infrastructure Week proclamations from both Morgantown City Council and the Monongalia County Commission, said this is an ideal time to get involved in the conversation as talk of trillions in infrastructure spending are spinning up in Washington.
“It’s good to raise awareness because it’s really easy to criticize, right? It’s so much easier to criticize without giving a second option, but I think the end goal of this stuff is once people are able to see how the different segments of infrastructure connect and really are part of the same foundation, it’ll be easier for them to be supportive of projects that may not be their first pick,” he said.
But the process should always begin with the people.
“Our view is that infrastructure investment must begin with the people’s input and needs,” MAP General Counsel and VP of Government Affairs Eldon Callen said. “That is our primary focus this year.”
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