hit a pothole - idiom. to face unexpected challenge (pothole: a deep, round hole in a road or some other surface (such as the bottom of a river)
initiative - n. a plan or program
host - n. a person who entertain guests or country that receive visitors
bidder - n. a person who offer to pay a certain price
refinery - n. a place where something like oil is refined
implement - v. to begin to work on a plan
despite - preposition, used to say that something happens or is true
steady - adj. lasting or continuing