Summary | Team | Federal Role | Current Environment | New Corps Approach | Process | Case Histories

Carmen Group excels at bringing a full suite of government relations services to our clients. Our Water and Environment Practice has deep experience and solid successes cutting through the multilayered, bureaucratic, administrative, and complex legislative maze that is the federal water and environment funding and policy process. While our experience is broad and varied, we tailor our services to the needs of our clients, bringing solid value and exceptional return on their investment in us.

American Water Resources Association National Conference Presentation

Government Affairs Consulting

Carmen Group's dramatic successes are due to our deep knowledge and expertise with the Administration, federal agencies and the Congress, as well as the positive relationships we maintain at the highest levels of government.  Carmen Group professionals apply their experience and insight in order to ensure that our clients’ projects and initiatives are best positioned to overcome procedural barriers, move through the federal legislative and administrative process, and meet key deadlines at every turn.

Carmen Group engages in aggressive project management with the following federal agencies and departments, among others:

• Army Corps of Engineers
• Department of Agriculture
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Forest Service
  • Farm Service Agency
  • Food and Nutrition Service
  • Rural Development
• Department of the Interior
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • National Park Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • National Marine Fisheries Service
• And many other federal agencies

Also, we know the Congress and the key water and environment committees.  We have a solid bi-partisan record of strategizing policy and funding initiatives and then seeing these initiatives successfully through the complexities of the Congressional process. We are perfectly positioned due to our strong efforts with the agencies overtime for today’s no-earmark scenario and to working with the agencies to secure the funding our clients need.

Securing Federal Grants and Funding

Carmen Group has over 25 years of proven success securing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for our clients, including securing funding through the various competitive grant processes of the federal agencies.  There are a wide range of federal funding sources for building, expanding, and maintaining water and environmental infrastructure projects, but finding and obtaining federal funding is not easy.  Carmen Group, however, has an established track record of winning significant competitive grant funding for our clients across the full range of federal departments and agencies, leaving no stone unturned in solving our client’s infrastructure and funding challenges.

The types of projects that we have been most successful in lobbying for funding and approval include: flood management, environmental restoration, water quality, water supply, water reclamation and recycling, navigation and recreation projects.

In today’s no earmark environment, we are working seamlessly with our clients within the agencies’ processes to secure federal funds and to take advantage of the agencies’ discretion to keep our clients’ interests advancing well.

Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

With federal, state and local government resources increasingly constrained and community needs ever-growing, the utilization of public-private partnerships (P3’s) is an important ingredient in both pursuing major public works projects and solving communities’ water and environmental infrastructure challenges.

Carmen Group professionals in our Water and Environment Practice have decades of experience working in both the public and private sectors, and are uniquely positioned to facilitate relationships and solve problems for all sectors.  We understand the needs and challenges of both the public and private sector, and how each can benefit through partnerships.
Our more than 25 years of experience structuring viable P3 arrangements bring private sector capital and experience to bear on public sector needs and challenges.  We are proud that the P3 projects we have guided to completion have transformed local and national methods of problem solving. Carmen Group’s breadth of knowledge and experience can help responsible municipal decision-makers and visionary private sector players leverage their strengths to the advantage of both.

Record of Success

• Flood Management Districts
• Metropolitan and Rural Sewerage and Recycling Authorities
• Water Supply Districts
• State Environmental Departments
• Cities
• Counties
• Port Authorities
• Utilities
• Special Purpose Districts
• Private Sector Water and Environmental Interests
• Public-Private Partnerships

Special Expertise

• Securing Funding in a No-Earmark Environment
• Appropriations Process
• Corps of Engineers Authorization Bills
• Shaping Approvable Projects
• High Level Project Management
• Clean Water Act
• Environmental Restoration
• Safe Drinking Water Act
• Infrastructure Financing Policy
• Natural Resources and Environmental Legislation
• Drafting Successful Grant Applications

Works with Federal Resources Agencies to Develop

• Federal Funding Priorities with the Agencies
• Multiple-Purpose Projects
• Expedited Project Approval
• Local/Federal Funding Agreements
• Budget Priority
• Innovative Federal Funding Sources
• Locally-Driven Solutions
• Public-Private Partnerships

Proven Record of Working Effectively With

Executive Branch

• The White House
  • Council on Environmental Quality
  • Office of Management and Budget
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of the Interior
  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • National Park Service
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Economic Development Administration
• Department of the Treasury/I.R.S.
• State Water Agencies

Legislative Branch

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• House Natural Resources Committee
• House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
• House/Senate Appropriations Committees
• House Ways and Means Committee
• Senate Finance Committee