Resiliency to Drive Economic Development in Cities

City leaders are the first line of defense in the fight against climate change. In February, NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Frank Mruk FAIA, represented the American Institute of Architects (AIA) during lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, meeting with Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Representatives Seth Magaziner and David Cicilline to promote the Resilient AMERICA Act which increases federal investment in pre-disaster mitigation through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. With the IRA incentives planned to be rolled out later this year, resiliency and concrete will play an increasingly strategic role in the economic development of cities, said Mruk.

In June, Mruk, who also serves as the president of AIA's Rhode Island chapter, met with Providence, RI, Mayor Brett Smiley (seen here, with Mruk at left) and his Chief of Policy and Resiliency Sheila Dormody. Mayor Smiley was elected mayor in November 2022 and on June 27, 2023, signed his first budget. Best practice resiliency, decarbonization and economic development strategies were discussed. Mruk was subsequently invited to help form the Providence RI Comprehensive Plan. The AIA chapter will have a joint planning session with the mayor this fall.

The Build With Strength program is a leader in supporting city officials at the cutting edge of industry best practices. For more information, contact Frank Mruk at fmruk@nrmca.org.