EFCG hosted the 7th Annual Technology Leadership Conference in New York City on June 6 – 7, 2022. The Conference brought together CTOs, CIOs, and technology leaders from firms across the AEC industry to discuss key topics and trends. The Conference kicked off with EFCG's signature Industry Overview presentation and was followed by panel sessions on topics such as: Leadership in a Hybrid World, Cybersecurity, 3-D Model-Based Design, Innovation, Technology M&A and Spin-Outs, Digital Advancement for Sustainable Infrastructure, Technology Strategies, Foundational Technologies, and No-Code/Low-Code Development. Microsoft's Ben Hammel (Director, Strategy) gave this year's keynote presentation, in which he discussed the importance of leveraging technology – and the role that Microsoft is playing – to increase internal and external stakeholder engagement on critical infrastructure projects. 
 
EFCG would like to thank everyone who attended this year's Technology  Leadership Conference (both in-person and virtually) and our sponsor, Bentley, for their continued partnership! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

• On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new round of low-cost financing for up to $5.5 billion as part of its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and an additional $1 billion for its State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program.
• These funds are intended to benefit underserved communities as part of President Biden's Justice40 initiative, providing jobs and other economic benefits and addressing the underdevelopment of water infrastructure in many of these communities.
• WIFIA credit assistance may be used for various projects, including treatment and distribution of drinking water, treatment and management of waste- and stormwater, alternative water supply projects, drought management projects, and projects aimed at improving the efficiency of drinking and wastewater facilities.

• On Friday, the Administration announced the summer-long “Talent Pipeline Challenge,” an initiative to invest in worker training and recruitment ahead of the expected rise in construction work created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• The initiative will be focused on public and private sector organizations to make tangible commitments that support equitable workforce development in three critical infrastructure sectors: Broadband, Construction, and “Electrification” (EV Charging Infrastructure and Battery Manufacturing).
• In addition to allocating over $800 million in funds to workforce training programs, the Talent Pipeline Challenge aims to create high-quality jobs for women, people of color, and workers from rural and impoverished communities via partnerships with high schools, community colleges, apprenticeships, and other labor-management training programs.
• These commitments aim to increase job growth in the construction industry and complement the Federal government’s investment in workforce development to ensure trained workers are ready to meet the demands of implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.