Pop Quiz: Which of these falls under infrastructure?
- A. Roads and bridges
- B. Airport Expansion
- C. Broadband Internet
- D. Sewer Lines
- E. School Furnaces and AC
- F. All of the above
If you answered all of the above, give yourself a sticker!
It’s is not just a buzzword.
Infrastructure is an umbrella term that encompasses all the structures and facilities we need to operate as a society.
Everything from how we get around safely and efficiently to the upkeep of our public buildings and parks…. to the electricity and internet that we use at home and at work…. to the water that we drink to the sewage water we want to ensure we don’t drink.
While it is easy to equate infrastructure to the Great Lake sized potholes we have here in Wisconsin, infrastructure is much bigger than that.
Types of Infrastructure
Because it has so many facets, we’re going to break it down into the different types of infrastructure.
Soft Infrastructure
This type of infrastructure is composed of organizations that help to maintain the economy. Examples of this include:
- law enforcement agencies
- the American education system
- the healthcare system
- and certain financial institutions.
Hard Infrastructure
These are the physical, tangible systems within society that make it possible for cities and states to run in the modern era. Examples of this include:
- Roads & Bridges
- Highways
- Capital (like vehicles or oil refineries) that make the previous examples operational
Critical Infrastructure
These are “essential” assets for society to function, as defined by the government. The United States has processes in place, like Homeland Security, to ensure that these
- Public Housing; provisions for heat and shelter
- Public Health
- Agriculture
- telecommunication efforts
- Garbage pickup/Sewage needs
Why it matters
There’s a ton more behind infrastructure, but it’s wayyy too much to try to throw at you at once.
Both companies and individuals have the opportunity to fund the process.
And investing in it is a choice that affects everyone’s quality of life and sustainable economic growth for our country, state, and communities.
