Skip to main content

Community Based Partnership

A Community Based Partnership Model is where a local government or public utility aggregates multiple improvement projects together into single, integrated procurement, creating one point of private sector accountability for linear type projects that support environmental, social and governance goals for a community through-out its lifecycle. It uses a performance-based contract, linking the partner’s payment to specific, measurable goals. The private partner assumes both short and long-term budget and schedule risks, incentivizing best value and a whole life compliance solution. The public sector can also require its private partner to achieve specific Key Performance Indicators to create jobs and engage with minority and women owned enterprises to create resilience solutions that create green space and achieve other community and economic development goals. Additionally, the private partner can also source best fit capital to invest “at risk” portion of development work to provide an earlier start to a program which the government partner can refinance with lower cost of capital upon completion and certification of the projects that make up the program.

Louisville Utility and Public Works Advisory Group

Focus is placed on improvements in operations and maintenance as three utility entities examine synergies that could save money.

Louisville Utility and Public Works Advisory Group

As operations and maintenance specialists, Black & Veatch served as part of the team that looked at the operations of Louisville Water Company, Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District, and the Metro Department of Public Works. The review focused on identifying potential synergies between the three entities that could lead to cost savings and better service to the citizens of metro Louisville.

Overview

The group conducted a detailed review of the stormwater pumping systems, wastewater collection systems and water supply/wastewater operations and maintenance. The team also facilitated multiple public meetings to help the Advisory Group develop a set of findings and recommendations for presentation to the Mayor of Louisville. The team performed many functions, including:

 

  • Analysis of operational and financial data.

  • Interviews with staff from all three entities to understand current business practices and operations.

  • Benchmarking of key utility metrics.

  • Financial analyses to evaluate potential strategic options.

Results

Ultimately, the Advisory Group recommended a phased approach to eventually consolidate the water and wastewater utilities.