The Enterprise
April 11, 2010

HIGH POINT – When High Point first considered hiring a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist, City Councilman Chris Whitley was skeptical.

He didn’t like the idea of the city being associated with the lobbyist trade and some of the controversial aspects of beltway politics, such as pork-barrel spending projects.

So when the city enlisted The Ferguson Group in 2004 to help bring in untapped federal dollars, he was watching closely to see how the firm performed.

“Of course, I’m not a big fan of earmarks and I hope they go away,” said Whitley, a council member since 1992 and the current mayor pro tem. “When we first hired them, we did a six-month contract. They jumped right into the ball game and started laying out what they were going to do. Quite frankly, I would say with The Ferguson Group, we’ve been fairly well successful in receiving federal dollars.”

Whitley isn’t alone among city leaders in this view.
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USA Today
February 5, 2009

TFG’s Bill Ferguson was quoted in a story in USA Today about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act regarding how local governments are looking for opportunities in the stimulus package and other spending bills. “President Obama and congressional leaders have vowed to keep the package free of the special projects lawmakers add to bills. Instead, much of the stimulus cash is expected to flow though federal departments and states. Bill Ferguson, CEO of the Ferguson Group, said part of his firm's role is to use its expertise and ties to federal agencies to help clients navigate the grant-making process.”
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Charlotte Observer and McClatchy Newspapers
February 11, 2009

TFG’s Jennifer Imo was quoted in the Charlotte Observer and McClatchy Newspapers about local governments in North Carolina seeking assistance to acquire federal funding that will come through economic recovery legislation. “A partner in the lobbying firm, Jennifer Imo, said that because the stimulus bill doesn't have specific earmarks, one of the ways she helps communities is by informing them which programs will require competitive grant applications, which will require applications to state administering agencies, and which have "use it or lose it" deadlines. "How are they to know all of that unless they are following it as closely as we are?" she said. "We are basically their staff in Washington that's monitoring very closely the stimulus process and making sure that they can take advantage of all the opportunities that will be afforded to communities like Matthews in the final package."”
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The Hill
January 5, 2009

TFG Partner Roger Gwinn was quoted in The Hill in a story about local governments using lobbying firms to ensure that they access stimulus money: “Roger Gwinn of the Ferguson Group said his team has focused on building support for federal programs that distribute money directly through cities, towns and counties based on well-known formulas....”
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Fayetteville Observer
December 27, 2008

Leslie Mozingo was quoted in the Fayetteville Observer in a story about Fayetteville seeking a part of the federal stimulus package: “Leslie Mozingo, a partner with The Ferguson Group, a federal lobbyist, said the federal government is not going to hand out blank checks to cities and towns. Rather, the infusion of new money would go to existing federal programs, which then would be funneled to the state and local level, she said. Think money for highway projects. Mozingo said her firm represents local governments and other organizations in 27 states. “The list you see from the city of Fayetteville is not uncommon at all,” she said.
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Deseret News
July 26, 2008

A story in Utah’s Deseret News explored why West Valley City has chosen The Ferguson Group as its Washington representative for more than a decade: "It gives you such an advantage over other local governments that aren't as large as ours or sophisticated enough to use (a lobby firm,)" said Joseph Moore, West Valley's Community and Economic Development director. "They are right in the heart of Washington. ... If you want to be aggressive about getting federal funding you somehow have to keep your hand in Washington — keep your hand on the pulse of what's going on — because billions of dollars can come through that process." This year, West Valley has its eye on $5.7 million in federal funds for various projects. Officials will be counting on The Ferguson Group — which represents more than 100 cities from Connecticut to California, but only West Valley City in Utah — to help them get the money.
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National Journal
May 31, 2008

Ron Hamm was quoted in the National Journal in a story about the College Cost Reduction Act. “Lobbyist Ron Hamm, a partner with the Ferguson Group, represents Alabama A&M University Research Institute. He says that wireless technology is in short supply at black colleges. "There is a dire need for broadband infrastructure at HBCUs. I was shocked to hear that so many of the schools are still way, way behind when it comes to technology," says Hamm, who recently attended a conference in New Orleans on minority-serving institutions. "We're going to have to have federal investment. I just don't think they'll be able to drive that [issue] locally." Still, Hamm says, people at the conference were actively thinking of new ways to obtain money. For instance, schools could benefit from securing federal research and development grants as opposed to worrying about the less predictable congressional appropriations process. "They're actually being creative in terms of looking at avenues that would increase resources for their schools. They're not just going to sit back and wait for Congress or the president to do something for them."