Environmental Communications

How do you measure project success?

• Was the project on time? Under budget?
• Were you happy with the product delivered?
• Did the public understand and accept your project?

Communicating complex, often controversial information to the public can be a difficult, overwhelming task for project managers. This is especially true if public resistance and misunderstandings have been encountered in the past. You want the public on your side, but where do you begin?

To ensure project success, you need a comprehensive public involvement program. MACTEC’s public involvement programs are designed to manage the unique information needs of your project. Our communications professionals are expert at developing and implementing programs that effectively disseminate complex issues to the public and provide feedback to project managers to assist them in making critical decisions.

MACTEC’s public involvement approach involves identifying a project’s key issues, then clearly and accurately conveying those issues to the public. We continuously monitor and refine the message being delivered to ensure complete understanding by the public and the project team.

Our programs provide an opportunity for public participation from day one. MACTEC engages the public early in the decision-making process and maintains an active dialogue for the duration of the project. Citizens and stakeholders are given a forum for access to project staff and technical information. The public involvement process develops as an educational experience for both the public and the client.

MACTEC’s goal is to achieve public buy-in of your project through informed consent, maximizing valuable feedback, input and dialogue while minimizing opposition.

Proactive Tools
MACTEC uses proactive communication tools to deliver your project’s technical information, translated into language easily understood by the public:

• Advisory committees, focus groups and problem-solving teams
• Broadcast-quality audio/video productions
• Exhibit and presentation material design
• Media relations
• Newsletters and project publications
• PowerPoint presentations
• Public informational meetings
• Small group meetings
• Surveys, questionnaires and public opinion polls
• Website and multimedia development

Experience That Counts
MACTEC has over 25 years of experience in developing public involvement programs for federal, state, municipal and private sector clients. Our project experience includes an extensive background in NEPA/CEQA, transportation and environmental location studies (EA/EIS), military site closures, and industrial facility development. Our seasoned team of communications specialists has the know-how and flexibility to design a program suited to your unique program needs and budget.

Benefits of MACTEC’s Public Involvement Program
• Peace of mind: Project managers and team members gain the confidence needed to make sound, informed, consistent decisions.
• Cost effectiveness: Clients avoid communication breakdowns that can result in costly delays.
• Universal understanding: Everyone involved has the opportunity to understand and appreciate all the issues.
• Public voice: By bringing constituents into the process, we involve them in the decisions that will affect their lives.