PORTSMOUTH, OH –
Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a virtual
roundtable with government and business leaders from the City of Portsmouth and
Scioto 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infrastructure law will allow Ohio communities to upgrade outdated bridges,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.
“We appreciate the chance
to share information about the progress in Portsmouth with Senator Sherrod
Brown. Public and private partnerships have helped to create a Main Street
courtyard on 2nd Street, a dog park, and a skate park. We are planning how to
better develop the riverfront for our citizens and are participating in the
Ohio River Recreation Trail project,” said Portsmouth Mayor
Sean Dunne.
“I appreciate that
Senator Brown is listening to the issues that impact our community.
Shawnee State is an integral part of Portsmouth and its future. The
Senator has always supported growth in southern Ohio and the role that
education plays in that growth,” said Shawnee State
University President Jeffrey Bauer.
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