MARION, OH
–
Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
hosted a virtual roundtable with government and business leaders from Marion
County to answer questions and discuss potential projects in the community from
the bipartisan
Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, which Brown helped to
write and pass, and other community concerns.
The bipartisan
infrastructure law will allow Ohio communities to upgrade outdated bridges,
roads, transit, and water and sewer systems and to build new broadband
networks.
“Much of my focus over
the coming months will be ensuring Ohio communities get their fair share of
these federal investments. Ohioans know best what their communities need,” said
Brown. “This is a jobs bill. It will create jobs doing the construction
projects, it will connect people with jobs, and it’ll create jobs throughout
the supply chain because we worked to make sure this bill has the strongest Buy
America requirements ever in an infrastructure bill.”
Brown has already
hosted a briefing with
the U.S. Department of Transportation for Ohio local government officials
on the funding opportunities available to Ohio communities as a result of the
bipartisan infrastructure law, to ensure Ohioans get their fair share of
investment. The infrastructure plan includes key provisions like Brown’s
Bridge Investment Act,
which will provide $12.5 billion in funding to repair and replace the 3,200
bridges across Ohio in need of repairs and updates, including the Brent Spence
Bridge. The package will also mean Ohio receives $9.8 billion of formula
funding to repair, replace, and upgrade roads and bridges throughout the state.
The infrastructure investment will also mean nearly $1.3 billion for Ohio
public transit agencies. It also includes Brown’s
Build America Buy
America Act, which will ensure American labor,
iron, and steel are used for these publicly funded bridge, broadband, waterway,
and public transit projects.
“As a community with deep
roots in manufacturing, Marion’s manufacturers are excited to meet
with Senator Brown to discuss new programs to promote advanced manufacturing
operations,” said Gus Comstock, Director of Marion
CAN DO!. “Today, we are prepared to train a workforce for existing
companies through programs such as The Ohio State University at
Marion's B.S. in Engineering Technology degree and Tri-Rivers Career
Center’s RAMTEC robotic certifications, and are actively engaging with
educators around the state to provide the new Intel chip manufacturing facility
with highly trained workers. All this is why Marion claims the title as
America’s Workforce Development Capital®.”
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