A Workshop on the InfrastructureNext Approach
Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes Regions
We are excited to launch our new two-day, hands-on innovative infrastructure planning workshop, framed on InfrastructureNext, an approach to getting the most possible value from infrastructure planning, design, and implementation. InfrastructureNext considers a wider range of possible solutions, based on a solid grasp of community values, that address the immediate infrastructure need while finding opportunities to achieve benefits for the environment, community health, and the local economy.
Presented by the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSI) and Willamette Partnership
Course Description
InfrastructureNext is a collaboration between Willamette Partnership and the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure. When a community’s aging infrastructure becomes outdated or reaches capacity, we help communities think beyond repair, replace, or resize, to reimagine the role infrastructure can play in the future of their communities. Reliable water, wastewater, electrical, transportation, and solid waste management infrastructure is critical to the health and wellbeing of a community’s residents, but also a key factor in local economic growth potential. InfrastructureNext provides communities with the tools and expertise to envision and implement infrastructure projects that are not only reliable but have multiple benefits for the environment, community health, and the local economy.
InfrastructureNext is a new approach that gets the most value from infrastructure planning, design, and implementation. It considers a wider range of possible solutions, based on a solid grasp of community values, that address the immediate infrastructure need while finding opportunities to achieve benefits for the environment, community health, and the local economy. Join us for a two-day interactive program to envision and learn how to implement innovative solutions to major infrastructure challenges that deliver more economic, social, and environmental benefits from investment.
REGISTER BELOW
Great Lakes Region
When: Tuesday, October 26 & Wednesday, October 27 at 9-11:30AM CT (7-9:30AM PT)
Where: Zoom
Sign up by Friday, October 15th to receive an InfrastructureNext packet in the mail!
Pacific Northwest Region
When: Thursday, November 4 & Friday, November 5 at 9-11:30AM PT
Where: Zoom
Sign up by Friday, October 15th to receive an InfrastructureNext packet in the mail!
We have applied the InfrastructureNext model in communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, helping them marry wastewater treatment plant upgrades with river restoration, create a renewable electrical grid with waste heat transfers, among other challenges. In Olympia, WA, we applied the InfrastructureNext approach to address traffic congestion while also improving safety, improving industry access, expanding green spaces, addressing stormwater issues, and saving an estimated $4M compared to other options.
In this two-day interactive program, you will learn the InfrastructureNext approach and apply innovative techniques to deliver infrastructure solutions that benefit the local economy, community health, and environmental assets.
Who is this training for?
Our core audience is practitioners of infrastructure technical assistance and all those interested in achieving the greatest value — environmental, economic, or community health — from infrastructure projects. This includes “connectors” who can spot opportunities for the InfrastructureNext approach to add value to local infrastructure projects. These workshops are focused on providers in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, but anyone can attend regardless of their geographic location.
Curriculum
Day 1: Community Engagement & Visioning, Introduction to Value Planning
During Day 1, you will get an overview of the InfrastructureNext approach, when to use it, and how to set up an InfrastructureNext engagement for success. We discuss good community engagement and early visioning as the backbone for the entire process that can lead to better outcomes. Finally, we introduce you to the Value Planning process to find creative solutions based on community values.
Day 2: Breaking Down Value Planning, Special Implementation Strategies
On Day 2, you will take a deeper dive into Value Planning and learn how to use it to help communities unlock innovative solutions to major infrastructure challenges that deliver multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits. We will finish the day with strategies for helping communities get their InfrastructureNext projects over the finish line.

Get in touch about the InfrastructureNext workshops.
Ethan Brown | Partner, InfrastructureNext
email | ethan@willamettepartnership.org