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Jennifer Imo

Managing Partner of Advocacy

Jennifer Imo

Managing Partner of Advocacy

"I value starting a project from the ground up and seeing its ultimate benefit to the community."

Jennifer Imo, a partner at TFG and member of the firm's management committee, represents municipal governments with a focus on transportation, community and economic development, public works, criminal justice, and public safety. In addition, she serves as the Federal Director of the National Association of Towns and Townships, a local government advocacy group that represents the interests of approximately 10,000 towns and townships across the country.

Jennifer provides strategic consulting and federal advocacy services for her clients, helping them find innovative ways to address local issues and fund local priority projects. As a result of her successful strategizing and strong relationships with congressional offices, Jennifer's clients have secured more than $100 million in federal appropriations, authorizations, and competitive grants in the twenty years she has been with TFG.

Additionally, Jennifer fosters productive relationships between her clients and various federal agencies. On behalf of the National Association of Towns and Townships, she led an effort to secure bipartisan congressional and administrative support for an initiative that repealed a costly unfunded mandate on state and local governments related to road sign replacement. In addition, she facilitated a working relationship between the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and a local government to develop a program for displaced workers who lost their jobs in furniture and textile plant closings. She also negotiated an agreement between the Federal Transit Administration and a community that enabled city leaders to spend congressionally-appropriated funds immediately instead of having to wait for the lengthy disbursement process, ensuring that an important project was not delayed.

Jennifer lobbies Congress on a variety of legislative issues of interest to local authorities. She works closely with groups like the National League of Cities and National Association of Counties to affect legislation that touches many aspects of local government, and represents TFG as a strategic partner to the International City/County Management Association. Jennifer has spoken at numerous conferences and webinars on a variety of local issues, focusing primarily on helping communities access federal support for local priorities and initiatives. She has also conducted advocacy training workshops at legislative fly-ins and conferences.

She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her J.D. from Wake Forest University.

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Overview

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) serves as the primary vehicle through which Congress authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects and establishes policy frameworks for water resource development nationwide. Enacted on a biennial schedule, WRDAs provide congressional authorization for USACE to conduct feasibility studies, construct flood risk reduction projects, improve navigation infrastructure, restore aquatic ecosystems, and assist with environmental infrastructure development.
Since the enactment of WRDA 1986, Congress has used these omnibus authorization bills to both create new USACE authorities and refine existing programs based on evolving national priorities and lessons learned from program implementation. Recent WRDAs have addressed critical issues including drought resilience, water supply development, infrastructure modernization, and support for economically disadvantaged communities.
The most recent legislation, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024, P.L. 118-272), continued Congress's bipartisan commitment to strengthening America's water infrastructure by authorizing new construction projects, modifying existing authorities, and establishing updated policy guidance for USACE operations. WRDA 2024 also authorized five new regional environmental infrastructure programs, each incorporating flexible delivery mechanisms that allow federal assistance to be provided through grants or reimbursements to nonfederal sponsors.
Authorization through WRDA is typically a prerequisite for USACE activities to receive federal appropriations through the annual Energy and Water Development appropriations process. This two-step framework—authorization followed by appropriation—ensures congressional oversight of both program scope and funding levels.
Section 219 of WRDA 1992, as amended, represents one of USACE's most geographically expansive environmental infrastructure assistance authorities. Originally enacted to authorize design assistance for 18 specific projects, Section 219 has been amended by subsequent Congresses to authorize both design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure in hundreds of municipalities, counties, and states across the nation.
The Congressional Research Service has identified over 600 environmental infrastructure assistance authorities with cumulative authorizations of appropriations totaling approximately $18.1 billion. Section 219 authorities constitute the majority of these geographically specific project authorizations, covering at least 46 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories.
Section 219 projects address critical community needs including wastewater treatment facilities, water supply and distribution systems, stormwater management infrastructure, surface water protection, and environmental restoration. These projects support public health, environmental quality, and economic development in communities that have secured congressional authorization for USACE assistance.
Congress has continued to expand Section 219 in recent legislation. WRDA 2022 added 132 new Section 219 authorities and amended 24 existing authorities. WRDA 2024 authorized an additional 193 new Section 219 authorities and amended 53 existing authorities, providing a combined $5.4 billion increase in authorization of appropriations. WRDA 2024 also established a seven-year pilot program to increase the federal cost share from 75 percent to 90 percent for Section 219 projects benefiting economically disadvantaged communities.
Unlike traditional USACE water resource projects, Section 219 assistance does not require completion of the agency's standard feasibility study process. However, projects receiving Section 219 assistance must comply with applicable federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act.

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