News and Information from Bond Buyer

The combined Utah-based Intermountain and Colorado-based SCL will operate 33 hospitals and 385 clinics in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Kansas.

Competitive grant programs like INFRA can help address the country's infrastructure needs, but it's important that states and cities understand how to apply.

Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read called off a lottery bond sale planned in 2020 after lottery revenues cratered because of pandemic-related business closures.

Michael Ballinger, Publisher The Bond Buyer, The Bond Buyer; Jay Redd, Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure Finance, Public Finance, UBS Global Wealth Management; Kevin Murphy, Partner, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP

Shawn Wooden, Treasurer of the State of Connecticut, State of CT

Join our panel of top industry leaders as they discuss their expectations on market performance, bond issuances, credit conditions, and potential challenges and opportunities for the year ahead.

With the $550 billion investment in infrastructure signed into law, it will have a huge impact on America’s transportation and information networks over the next five years. Turbo-charging the municipal finance market to keep the transformation going? That’s a longer haul. Our panelists will discuss how the market can integrate the infrastructure dollars to bolster the broader municipal industry.

Attendees of The Bond Buyer National Outlook Conference 2022 will have the opportunity to vote in a live market survey at the Metropolitan Club in New York City on March 1st, 2022. Topics will include economic growth, total issuance, taxable municipals, state and local government credit conditions, growing focus on ESG factors and more. Fitch Ratings’ Arlene Bohner will lead the Live Market Survey panel discussion with a diverse group of industry experts.

Jonathan A. Ballan, Co-Chair, Public & Project Finance, Cozen O’Connor; Brad Lander, Comptroller, City of New York

While environmental, social and governance investment considerations have grown around the globe, the U.S. municipal securities market is just beginning to delve into the space in varying degrees. A Bond Buyer research report in Q3 2021 showed that out of more than half of respondents to an ESG survey, 56% rated ESG as important to the municipal industry with the greatest importance placed on the environmental aspect at 73%, followed by governance at 60% and social at 50%. Our panel will explore how ESG fits into the muni market.

From AI to machine learning to electronic trading platforms, the municipal market has been integrating these technologies to improve workflows and expand transparency. The municipal market is ripe for growth in these areas and our panelists will discuss how participants can integrate technology to help create a more efficient marketplace.

With the infusion of billions of federal aid for state and local governments and the sectors they rely on, a new credit landscape has emerged in what some are calling the golden age of muni credit.

How is the buy side approaching portfolio management in a post-Fed tapering, rising-rate environment? Participants will discuss mutual fund flows, taxables, dealer inventories and more.

Most state departments and authorities would be required to offer a telework program of up to two days a week for one year starting July 1.

Investors pulled more from municipal bond mutual funds as the Investment Company Institute reported $4.5 billion of outflows in the week ending March 30.

SSM returns to the market with $323 million, highlighting its stronger balance sheet, ESG efforts, and medical partnerships that reflect a sector trend.

The Washington-based system faces challenges, including operating pressures, variable utilization, and weaker liquidity making it more difficult for it to absorb the impact at its previous rating level.

The Economic Development Bank estimated the first half of fiscal 2022 had experienced a 5.5% increase in growth, upward from a 3.6% increase in previous estimates.

At least 80% of the fund has to be “ESG leaders,” or issuers that have shown leadership in terms of environmental and social stewardship within their communities relative to their peers and that sector.

S&P revised the outlook on Miami Beach to stable from negative and affirmed the AA-minus rating on the city’s resort tax revenue bonds.