Here’s What They’re Saying: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Benefits All Corners of Ohio
December 21, 2021
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Columbus, OH – Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, cementing the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure in a century. This month, the Ohio Democratic Party and For Our Future Ohio traveled around the state to talk directly to Ohioans and tell them about the critical investments coming to their communities as part of the ‘Building Ohio Together’ Tour. Leaders across Ohio praised the crucial infrastructure legislation and continued calling on Congress to keep building on the momentum created by the infrastructure bill.
Read more about what they’re saying from the Building Ohio Together Tour stops across Ohio:
Lorain:
Richard Payerchin
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help communities pay for road and utility projects — and it will help Lorain County families, said Democratic elected officials and local union leaders.
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“‘It means supporting the small businesses that grow our economy and help us compete against other countries to bring more jobs back home,’ [John] Novak said. ‘And right here, because of this historic bill, the Great Lakes are set to receive $1 billion in new funding to support clean drinking water and spark hundreds of thousands of jobs.’”
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“The bill is the largest infrastructure investment in American history and it will have meaningful results for working families in Lorain city and county, [County Commissioner Matt] Lundy said.
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“Who in the world doesn’t want improved roads?” Lundy asked.”
The Chronicle-Telegram: Local Democrats, union leaders celebrate $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill
Kevin Martin
“Gathering at Lorain’s Lakeview Park on the Lake Erie shore, Lorain County Commissioner Matt Lundy and Sheffield Mayor John D. Hunter were joined by John Novak, business manager for IBEW Local 129, and Jim Slone, president of the Lorain County UAW’s CAP Council, as part of the Building Ohio Together Tour, organized by the Ohio Democratic Party and For Our Future Ohio.
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“The plan will provide funding for broadband infrastructure investments, expanding access for thousands of Ohio students. Lundy said the package represents a game-changer for Lorain County and the entire country.”
Lima:
“Mayor-Elect Sharetta Smith was joined by the presidents of the local UAW and the Lima Building Trades unions to talk about the funding plan. The bill will give Ohio over $9 billion for highway improvements and nearly $500 million for bridges. Plus, there is another $1.4 billion heading to the state to improve water infrastructure, and millions more to increase broadband access around the state. All of that work could mean more work for union labor locally. The bill was signed into law last week, and Mayor-Elect Smith says that the new funding source could be a benefit to help with some of Lima’s aging infrastructure problems.”
Lima News: Lima hoping for funding help
Joe Gilroy
“Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act should bring extra funding to the City of Lima, mayor-elect Sharetta Smith and local union leaders said Monday.”
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“Experts believe the bipartisan bill will create good-paying jobs that will help Ohio businesses grow by investing in roads, bridges, public transit, water pipes and broadband.
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“‘Because of this bill, Ohio’s economy will be back on the road to recovery with billions of dollars in investments and hundreds of new good-paying jobs. We’re working to lower costs for working Ohioans, rather than for big corporations and the super rich,’ [Jeff] Adams said.”
Zanesville:
WHIZ-TV: Zanesville Leaders Discuss How the Infrastructure Bill Will Improve Muskingum County
“This past November, President Biden passed a major infrastructure bill that invests in roads, bridges, public transits, water pipes and high speed internet. Zanesville leaders came together today to discuss what this would mean for the Muskingum community.
“Ohio is expected to receive $9.2 billion for highways and $483 million for bridge replacement and repairs. According to Todd Ware, Third Ward City Councilman Representative, $6 to $7 million of that will go towards Putnam Hill Park and Dug Road repairs.
Erin Couch
“On Thursday, Zanesville City Councilman Todd Ware and representatives from the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council and the Communications Workers of America union spoke at Putnam Hill Park, about what the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could mean for Zanesville and Muskingum County.
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“Roads, bridges, water and broadband are all included in the bill, but Dug Road, formally known as Muskingum Avenue, was a talking point as a project that could benefit from the $1 trillion bipartisan bill.
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“Dug Road was partially closed in 2017 due to rock slides. It was closed fully in 2019. In some cases the road was an alternative for emergency vehicles, shortening drive times to medical services by several minutes, Ware said.
‘That could be the difference between life and death,’ he said.”
Cleveland:
WOIO-TV: Northeast Ohioans host rally in support of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act
“The Build Back Better Act has already been passed in the U.S. House, but it still needs to be passed in the Senate, so Kubicki and others rallied outside of Ohio Senator Rob Portman’s office to encourage him to pass the bill.
“‘Pass the Build Back Better Act, it’s not just about his family, it’s about hundreds of thousands of people who could be helped,” said Kubicki.
Toledo:
WNWO-TV: Officials celebrate Passage of Infrastructure Bill
“‘Cities like Toledo haven’t gotten this sort of investment and this sort of attention from Washington in a really long time. I believe you’d have to go back to the New Deal, the Great Depression, and the Works Progress Administration for the last time that Washington D.C. has sent this amount of money to Toledo, and we’re gonna put it to good use,’ said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.”
WTOL-TV: Local Leaders Celebrate Passage of Infrastructure Bill
“‘It will allow us to do things, frankly, that we weren’t able to do under the American Rescue Plan,’ said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.”
WTVG-TV: Preparing for Infrastructure Projects
“Projects like replacing water lines and expanding broadband access are all possible by funding not seen in recent years.”
Youngstown:
WKBN-TV: Local leaders celebrate historic infrastructure bill
“‘You’re gonna see roads, bridges, you’ll see ironworkers, you’ll see carpenters, laborers, operating engineers, plumbers and pipefitters. I mean all the way down the list. With this kind of bill to be able to put people to work and good-paying, high paying jobs that can sustain that and actually have a focus on the areas that they’re working in, to keep those tax dollars here, that’s what the best focus of it could be,’ said Marty Loney, Western Reserve Building Trades president.”
The Vindicator: Youngstown labor leaders praise infrastructure bill
“Valley labor and state Democratic Party leaders on Friday celebrated passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and discussed what it means for communities like Youngstown.
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“The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes strong Buy America rules for taxpayer-funded infrastructure and public works projects. This means American-made iron, steel and manufactured products would be required for federally funded infrastructure projects. That’s great news for growing good-paying union jobs, and that’s why we are here in Youngstown,” [Chair] Walters said.”
Dayton:
WDTN-TV: Dayton leaders push for passage of ‘Build Back Better’
“Dayton Mayor-elect Jeff Mims and other city leaders held a news conference to discuss the importance of passing the plan. Mims said it is ‘critical for us to make sure we give our youngest learners the best start possible that will put them in a position to make a contribution to this society.’”
More on the new infrastructure funding below:
- Ohio is expected to receive $9.2 billion for highways and $483 million for bridge replacement and repairs. [White House, 8/4/21]
- Ohio is expected to receive $1.2 billion to improve public transit. [White House, 8/4/21]
- Ohio is expected to receive $100 million in broadband funding, including providing high-speed internet access to the at least 259,000 Ohioans who lack it. [White House, 8/4/21]
- Ohio is expected to receive $1.4 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state. [White House, 8/4/21]
- Ohio is expected to receive approximately $253 million for infrastructure development for airports. [White House, 8/4/21]
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