The AIA's priority issues for this year-school construction, growth, economic development, brownfields revitalization, and infrastructure construction-all were frequently mentioned as budgetary priorities in the nation's governors' state-of-the-state addresses this year. The AIA Government Affairs department has compiled a report highlighting the most important state-level concerns, which President Bush has made clear will be a key driver in his administration.

Overall, the tone of the speeches was positive and optimistic. Moreover, 47 of the 50 governors identified core AIA issues as important to their state government agendas this year.

School construction: More than half of the governors specifically addressed the need to rebuild, repair, and improve their states' school infrastructure, with promises of increased funding widespread. "I've proposed the largest school construction budget in our state's history," emphasized Georgia Governor Roy Barnes. "This isn't just an investment in bricks and mortar, it's an investment in our children's future."

Growth and economic development: States are proud of their thriving growth. Governor Tony Knowles discussed Alaska's healthy savings accounts, 22,000 new jobs, low unemployment, and highest Internet usage in the U.S.-all factors contributing to Alaska's growth. California, on the other hand, cautioned against rapid development.

Brownfields redevelopment: Six governors (concentrated in the mid-region states) addressed brownfields redevelopment. Governor George Ryan of Illinois emphasized that the work "to clean up and rehabilitate urban brownfields, abandoned landfills, and leaking oil wells is the largest cleanup effort in state history."

Construction and infrastructure: Among the 27 governors who emphasized construction and infrastructure was Mike Huckabee, from Arkansas. "Now, we have the largest capital construction program in the history of the state," he said. Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci added: "We have spent $20 billion to rebuild our state. We will spend an additional $17 billion in the next five years to complete the most massive rebuilding of the state's infrastructure in our history."

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.