Advancing Cities Through Collaboration, Innovation, and Public Private Partnerships
Mayors and city leaders from across the country gathered recently in Washington, DC for the 94th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors. The convening underscored the growing role cities play in driving economic growth, delivering infrastructure, and navigating an increasingly complex federal landscape.
Across three packed days, discussions ranged from public safety and housing to artificial intelligence, workforce development, climate resilience, and global engagement. A consistent theme emerged reinforcing that cities are leading and partnerships are essential to delivering results that meet the needs of everyone in the community.
Civint holds a seat on USCM’s business council and was represented at the conference by CEO Sam Johnson and COO Rania Jamison. In 2023, Civint played a key role in USCM setting up the P3 Task Force, which was a vision of former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. The task force’s work helps local elected leaders navigate the complexities of infrastructure planning and growth using public private partnerships.
Setting the Stage: Leadership, Innovation, and Local Impact
USCM President Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City welcomed more than 270 participants leading an opening plenary session featuring conversations among mayors on topics of public safety, affordability, and innovation in local government. Mayors shared lessons learned from their cities while emphasizing the need for flexible tools, federal alignment, and private sector collaboration to meet residents’ expectations.
During the conference, mayors engaged in a wide array of breakout sessions focused on:
- Infrastructure funding and implementation, including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law opportunities
- Housing affordability and economic mobility
- AI powered cities and powered cities and powered cities and data-driven governance
- Climate solutions and energy reliability
- Workforce development and talent pipelines
These conversations reinforced that, while challenges vary by region, cities face common pressures and increasingly benefit from shared models and peer learning.
Infrastructure at the Forefront: Why P3s Took Center Stage
Among the most insightful discussions of the week were those focused on public private partnerships. “This was particularly important as cities confront aging infrastructure, rising construction costs, and unprecedented demand for capital investment,” says Johnson who wrote about the importance of P3 work in this post from 2025.
By 2025, local government infrastructure construction spending reached approximately $300 billion nationwide, underscoring both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity for innovative delivery models. That context made the P3 Task Force programming a focal point of the entire Winter Meeting.
Why This Matters for Cities — and for Civint
“For Civint, the USCM Winter Meeting reaffirmed what we see every day in our work with cities. The future of local infrastructure depends on smart partnerships, thoughtful planning, and trusted execution,” says Johnson. “From transportation and water systems to civic facilities and emerging technologies, cities are increasingly called upon to do more with limited resources. When structured well, P3s offer a powerful way to align public goals with private expertise and capital.”
The emphasis USCM placed on P3 Task Force leadership, readiness, and education signals that mayors are not only interested in partnerships but they are also committed to doing them right.
Looking Ahead
As city leaders returned home from Washington, the conversations from the 94th Winter Meeting will continue to shape local decision making throughout 2026.
Johnson says, “For Civint and our clients, we are energized by the momentum around infrastructure delivery, cross collaboration, and capacity building. We look forward to continuing to support cities as they turn ideas into projects that deliver real community impact, and we look forward to continuing to support cities as they turn ideas into projects that deliver real community impact.”
