Regulatory Services

The regulatory or rulemaking process is a powerful way to influence the real-world outcomes of laws passed by Congress, and is an important step to ensuring implementation is favorable to our client’s needs. TFG’s regulatory practice is built on a comprehensive understanding of agency policy and rulemaking processes. TFG professionals have been working with, or have served as, senior staff at federal and state agencies for decades. We use this experience to devise and implement innovative solutions and strategies to achieve effective regulatory outcomes for our clients, and, among other things, put you face-to-face with program officers and decision-makers within key agencies to advocate for your interests.

Why Choose TFG?

Develop and submit comments on agency rulemakings, guidance, proposed rules, interim final rules, advisory documents, policy manuals, supplemental proposed rules, and amendatory language
Advocate at federal agencies, the Executive Office of the President, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress
Devise innovative solutions for our client’s regulatory challenges
Track and monitor regulations and policies
Research and analyze agency rules, regulations, policies, and objectives

Case Studies

4F Waiver

TFG worked with the Transportation Corridor Agencies to secure a legislative fix to a 4F regulatory hurdle that prohibited transportation projects funded with federal dollars from having an adverse impact on parks and historic properties. Without the waiver, a multi-billion dollar toll road would have either been stopped in its entirety or incurred significant delays and legal expenses. Working with House and Senate Committees, the Department of Transportation, the Trust for Historic Preservation, and national environmental groups, TFG and its client crafted a provision in federal transportation authorization legislation that permitted an exception to the law when both a park facility and the highway are identified in the same planning process and meant to coexist. The legislative fix avoided construction delays and costly litigation.

Executive Order on FFRMS

In January 2015, the Obama Administration issued Executive Order 13690, which updates the original 1977 Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) Executive Order to help reduce the risk and cost of future flood disasters by requiring future federally-funded investments in and around floodplains to adopt higher flood standards. TFG worked to educate its local government clients on the impacts of the Executive Order on their federally-funded projects and ensured Congress and the Administration understood the impacts of the new requirements on local communities. TFG continues to work with clients through the implementation of the Executive Order and will continue to ensure that local governments in the floodplain are not unfairly burdened by the new requirements.

EPA Integrated Planning

TFG has worked on behalf of the TFG-managed Perfect Storm Communities Coalition (PSC) to advocate for a regulatory approach consistent with the Clean Water Act (CWA) that provides local governments the flexibility needed to meet major regulatory challenges in a more cost-effective way. These efforts resulted in the release of EPA's Integrated Planning Framework, which allows a municipality to meet multiple CWA requirements by identifying efficiencies from separate wastewater and stormwater programs and sequencing investments so that the highest priority projects are addressed first, saving municipalities significant time and ratepayer resources. TFG continues to work with PSC to advocate for the codification of EPA Integrated Planning Framework and increased flexibility in meeting CWA obligations.

Services & Issue Areas of Expertise

Transportation

Broadband & Telecommunications

Economic & Community Development/Housing

Environment & Sustainability

Health Care & Social Services

Public Safety

Disaster Preparedness & Recovery

Flood Issues

Water Resources

US Congressional Calendar

Alex Yiannoutsos / Monday, January 22, 2024

/ Categories: News, Alerts

Virginia Selects TFG and Sustainable Energy Advantage for Federal Funding Support Services, Clean Energy Projects

TFG and Sustainable Energy Advantage will offer expert support to advance Virginia’s clean energy goals

RICHMOND, Va. – The Commonwealth of Virginia selected TFG to provide federal funding and grant support services to all Virginia agencies, institutions of higher education, and public bodies to further clean energy, environmental, economic development, infrastructure, and other policy goals. TFG is teaming up with Sustainable Energy Advantage, a firm that has helped entities navigate policy and develop clean energy solutions for twenty-five years.

“This partnership signifies our shared commitment to maximize Virginia’s access to federal funding and advance the state’s clean energy solutions along with other public investment priorities,” said Roger Gwinn, TFG CEO. “By eliminating barriers and expediting the funding process, we aim to empower Virginia's public entities to drive positive change in energy, environment, and economic development. TFG remains steadfast in our mission to help build resilient and thriving communities by harnessing the power of federal funding and strategic advocacy.”

“We’re eager to collaborate with Sustainable Energy Advantage to serve Virginia,” said Trace Roller, TFG Manager of Grants Strategic Development. “Our mission is clear: streamline access to federal funds for entities across the state. Through strategic coordination, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on key funding opportunities, we are committed to delivering tangible results that propel Virginia towards a sustainable, resilient future.”

“On the heels of successful facilitation of stakeholder engagement on behalf of the State Corporation Commission regarding a potential shared solar program for electric customers in Southwest Virginia, we are thrilled to join forces with TFG to continue enabling the Commonwealth of Virginia’s efforts to implement sustainable energy solutions. This collaboration underscores our commitment to facilitating a greener, more resilient future,” said Bob Grace, SEA Managing Director and President. “We aim to help Virginia successfully leverage available funds and industry best practices to implement programs and activities aligning with the Commonwealth’s energy, environmental, and economic development goals.”

This partnership designates TFG and Sustainable Energy Advantage as approved suppliers of federal funding support services. Public entities throughout Virginia can directly access expert assistance to secure funding for clean energy, environmental, economic development, infrastructure, and other policy projects without going through the Request for Proposal process—maximizing project competitiveness and access to federal funds.

With a particular focus on funding opportunities like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, TFG will:

Identify and support clean energy funding proposal development;
Coordinate among Virginia agency partners;
Engage relevant stakeholders;
Provide research services;
Manage data collection and data analysis;
Develop Justice40 Initiative best practices;
Support management of awarded projects; and
Offer additional services related to clean energy projects and proposals.

About TFG: Headquartered in Washington D.C. with offices nationwide, TFG has specialized in legislative and regulatory advocacy and federal funding services since 1982. TFG has a proven track record of delivering success and has helped clients secure over $5 billion in competitive federal funding since 2015. The mission that propels us throughout the decades has always been and continues to be the drive to build stronger, more vibrant communities for this generation and the next.

For more information about TFG, please visit our website at www.thefergusongroup.com.

About Sustainable Energy Advantage: Headquartered in Framingham, MA and founded in 1999, Sustainable Energy Advantage (SEA) specializes in clean energy market, policy, financial and strategic analysis. SEA has supported the efforts of over 40 state government agencies and hundreds of companies in the clean energy space to identify, analyze, implement and evolve clean energy initiatives, policies, programs and investments.

For more information about SEA, please visit SEA’s website at www.seadvantage.com.

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Tags: Infrastructure Energy Environment Federal Funding Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Vehicle Economic Development Environmental Justice Inflation Reduction Act Sustainability Virginia Sustainable Energy Advantage Clean Energy

Latest TFG News

24 July 2024

Kristen H. Long Promoted to Grants Principal at TFG

TFG strengthens leadership team amidst explosive growth in grants division.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The TFG Grants Division is pleased to announce the promotion of Kristen H. Long to Grants Principal. Kristen has been an integral part of the TFG Grants Division since 2022.

Meet a Team Member