The ASCE fiscal year 2013 budget, effective October 1, 2012, does not include funding for State Public Affairs Grants (SPAG).
The SPAG program was established to enable Sections and Branches to introduce public affairs programs at the local level without impacting their existing membership and educational programs. Funding for the grants has been set annually by the Board, and has ranged from a high of $268,000 to a low of $75,000, based on the amount of discretionary funds available. Given the challenges of the ongoing economic climate and the pressures that has put on the ASCE budget, the Finance Committee did not include a recommendation for SPAG funding in its FY2013 budget proposal. That budget was approved by the Board at its July meeting.
As a discretionary program, SPAG funding will be considered again next year during the budget development and approval process. To assist in the coming year, ASCE has public relations expertise on staff ready to help strategize the promotion and execution of your upcoming initiatives, including state and local Infrastructure Report Cards and Centennial events. If you would like more information, please contact ASCE at govwash@asce.org.