Winston-Salem in federal money chase

There are lots of folks looking for a handout from the federal government. For a local example, look no further than the city of Winston-Salem, which has aggressive chased down federal dollars through the retention of the Ferguson Group since 2005.

The Winston-Salem City Council was scheduled on Tuesday to consider an extension of the city’s agreement with the Washington lobbying outfit for another year. According to a memo from Deputy City Manager Derwick Paige, the city has enjoyed an investment return of $58.55 in federal funding for every dollar it’s spent with the Ferguson Group. Projects on the city’s wish list that might benefit from federal funding in the next fiscal year include development of Interstate 74 along the eastern fringe of the city, efforts to acquire property for the future Northern Beltway and replacement of a railroad truss bridge over Peters Creek to accommodate passenger rail service.

Federal lobbying outfits such as Ferguson that are on the payroll of local governments are undertaking increasingly sophisticated strategies in light of the clamor to tighten federal purse strings.

“As a result of the 2010 midterm election results being fueled by concerns about economic recovery and calls for greater fiscal discipline,” Paige writes, “the Ferguson Group has suggested that in addition to specific earmark requests, the city’s FFY 2012 agenda should also include a diversified portfolio to secure funding through a more aggressive approach to competitive grants awarded directly by the federal agencies, to pursue amendments that create additional flexibility within existing programs so departments can maximize any federal assistance available to them (whether by formula, reimbursement, block grants or otherwise), to aggressively oppose proposed cuts that will result in local costs without federal support, and to actively engage policies that matter locally.”