Programs & Services

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Policy & Advocacy

Throughout its history, the New York Building Congress has served as a leading advocate of city-shaping capital investments; ongoing maintenance and strategic expansion of the region's vast infrastructure network; and sensible public policy aimed at improving the way New York builds.

The Building Congress promotes ambitious projects that improve mobility, economic opportunity, and growth throughout the city and works with local stakeholders and industry experts to define overlooked neighborhoods, industries and infrastructure needs which provide true opportunities for investment. Recent years have seen the City make unprecedented levels of investment to protect, maintain and expand its network of schools, libraries, hospitals, parks, roads and bridges, water and sewer systems, and other core components that make New York livable. It is critical that the City continues to make similar levels of investment and demonstrates a long-term commitment as the population continues to grow and the economy expands.

While the City of New York consistently spends between $8-10 billion every year on vital capital projects across the five boroughs, the budget planning process is opaque, and capital project procurement, management and delivery are inefficient. The Building Congress will continue to work closely with City officials to make meaningful improvements to procurement practices in order to speed projects into construction, and improve management during construction and closeout to avoid delays, scope changes and speed payment.

A number of major infrastructure projects are being planned and have been made public that will need the support of government and the industry as they move into development. However, the City must look beyond the current slate of projects and plan for the next generation of critical infrastructure developments that will accommodate the expected growth. The Building Congress will define and promote these projects to ensure they are given serious consideration by the public, the industry and our leaders in government.

The New York Building Congress will lead advocacy efforts in New York City, New York State and Washington, D.C.