Fl Governor Rick Scott Attends Workshop On Florida’s New Infrastructure Legislation And Opp.

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. - Sept. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- More than 200 people from the public and private sector in the construction industry in South Florida attended a workshop on September 16, 2013 at Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club in Miami Lakes describing new infrastructure legislation in Florida that expands the scope of Public-Private Partnerships (P3s). Governor Rick Scott, who signed the legislation into effect on June 27, 2013, attended the event and gave the Keynote Address.

“We’re making historic investments in our infrastructure to support Florida’s continued economic success and job growth. The steps we’re taking today better position Florida to be a global leader in commerce,” said Governor Scott.

Florida previously enjoyed the benefits of P3s for state transportation projects only. This new legislation opens the door for P3 involvement in local government projects for development, design and construction of both civil and social infrastructure. Examples of P3 projects include water, sewer and waste service projects, roads, bridges and causeways, health care and educational facilities, convention centers and police stations.

“This expanded P3 legislation will create new opportunities through private investment at all levels of the construction industry,” said Gary M. Stein, co-managing partner of the Miami office of the national construction law firm of Peckar & Abramson, P.C., a host of the event. “Several P3 projects already underway in south Florida include the Port of Miami tunnel, the expansion of Miami International Airport and the I-595 roadway expansion.”

Ananth Prasad, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, gave the Opening Remarks at the Workshop followed by two panel discussions entitled: P3 Transportation Projects for Counties, State Road and Bridges moderated by Peckar & Abramson partner Jerry P. Brodsky (Director of the firm’s Latin American Practice Group); and P3 Vertical Construction and Social Infrastructure Projects for City and County Public Buildings and Educational Facilities moderated by Peckar & Abramson senior partner Frank M. Rapoport, a leader in the firm’s Public-Private Partnerships practice group.

The Workshop was co-hosted by Peckar & Abramson (a leading national construction law firm), The Florida Transportation Builders Association (Florida's voice for the road and bridge building industry), the Construction Association of South Florida (a nonprofit organization whose members are from all aspects of the construction industry), AON (the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resource consulting and outsourcing), Sabadell Bank (one of Florida’s largest banks) and Associated General Contractors of South Florida (the oldest and largest commercial construction organization in the nation).

Peckar & Abramson, P.C. maintains offices in New York City, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta and Pennsylvania, and has affiliations with global firms in Latin America (through its founding membership in CONSTRULEGAL), London and China.  In addition to its core construction practice, the firm has affiliated practice groups who counsel contractors on labor and employment matters, corporate and regulatory compliance issues including D/M/WBE compliance and general corporate and real estate matters. The firm’s website can be found at www.pecklaw.com.