During a Senate committee meeting on Wednesday, a leading Ohio construction union representative stated that the state has the potential to experience long-term economic recovery in its struggling towns with the arrival of billions of federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act. These funds are expected to generate thousands of well-paid jobs in Ohio.
According to Mike Knisley, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, the number of union building trades and construction workers in the state is expected to increase in the next generation. Despite attrition due to retirements and deaths, the current number of approximately 100,000 workers is estimated to grow to between 115,000 and 125,000.
During a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing chaired by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, Knisley emphasized the positive impact of sound infrastructure and investment policies from Washington on local communities. “Good infrastructure and investment policies that come out of Washington create great outcomes in our local communities,” he stated.
According to Brown, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already set in motion over 60,000 infrastructure projects nationwide. These projects are focused on enhancing 165,000 miles of road and fixing over 9,400 bridges, with advantages that reach each state.
According to Brown, the U.S. economy has seen a significant increase of 670,000 construction jobs over the last three years. This growth is expected to continue as larger projects are initiated, leading to even more hiring opportunities in the industry.
As per Knisley, the CHIPS and Science Act is playing a crucial role in facilitating the development of advanced computer chip manufacturing plants in Ohio and across the United States. He further added that the construction of Intel’s latest semiconductor factory in the Columbus region will provide employment opportunities to nearly 10,000 skilled tradespeople.
According to Brown, the funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are being utilized to construct a new companion bridge over the Ohio River, known as the Brent Spence Bridge, which will connect Cincinnati with Kentucky. In addition to this, the old Western Hills Viaduct, which has been in use for 90 years, is being replaced. The Market Street Bridge, which connects Steubenville with West Virginia, is also being replaced.
According to him, the rail transit system of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is about to receive an upgrade with the addition of 60 new rail cars, replacing the outdated cars that have been in operation since the Reagan Administration. Besides, several new facilities are under construction, including a new maintenance facility for Akron Metro and a new Amtrak station in Bryan, Ohio, aimed at enhancing the quality of transit and rail services.
According to his statement, a game-changing initiative is currently underway in Cleveland. The project aims to connect the downtown area of Cleveland with Lake Erie. The primary objective of this project is to provide easy lake access to the residents of Cleveland who have grown up near the lake but have been facing difficulty getting there due to the presence of railroad tracks and a large freeway.
According to Brown, there are significant improvements being made to Ohio’s streets and bridges, including those in rural counties and Appalachia.
Inquiring about the efficiency of federal spending, South Carolina’s Tim Scott, who serves as the top Republican in the committee, raised concerns regarding the impact of inflation on construction costs, as well as the bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the government.
According to Scott, when politicians decide that they know better than the local community, it results in job loss and increased prices. He expressed his satisfaction with the hearing being held, but believes that most Americans would prefer to skip the hearing and allocate the funds to provide job opportunities. In his own words, “block grant the money and let a brother go to work.”
According to R. Richard Geddes, the leader of Cornell University’s Program in Infrastructure Policy, it is essential for Brown’s committee to promote increased private participation in the delivery of US infrastructure. He believes that constructing public-private partnerships can help transfer the risk of time and cost overruns from the taxpayer to the private partner.
During the committee hearing, Geddes emphasized the importance of public and private cooperation in improving the delivery of American infrastructure to global standards. He highlighted how such arrangements can be instrumental in achieving better results through improved coordination.
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