Reconnecting America Policy Director will be participating in a panel discussion of "Procurement as a Tool for Boosting Local Economies and Job Creation" on July 26 as part of an invitation-only one-day seminar on "Transportation Procurement As A Win-Win for Local Economies And Communities." The gathering is co-hosted by Surdna Foundation, LA Alliance for New Economy (LAANE) and the Brookings Institution. Annually, billions of public-private partnership funds are invested in new transportation projects and the maintenance of existing infrastructure in the US; however there are knowledge and practice gaps related to identifying and leveraging transportation purchasing dollars to achieve a broad range of community benefits. Meeting organizers are seeking early stage strategy development regarding ways to increase, improve and better integrate transit manufacturing and local economic development in the US.