By Jim Glazer of Elliott Equipment Company and Kip Eideberg of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers —
Editor’s Note: This was originally published by the Omaha World-Herald. It is being republished here with their permission.
It has been more than two years since Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It is said that politics is the art of the possible, but when it came to this historic legislation politics quickly became the art of confusion. Critics of the legislation called it “rushed and irresponsible,” complained about “wasteful spending,” and even went so far as to label it a “big government socialist agenda” to score political points.
The truth is that the law made a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness that has set Nebraska on a march toward a grand rebuild.
As implementation hits its stride, the infrastructure law continues to deliver for Nebraska. As of January 2024, $2.4 billion in funding has been announced and is headed to the state with over 260 specific projects identified for funding. From much-needed investments in roads and bridges, to upgrades to clean water and water infrastructure and a $950 million makeover of Eppley Airfield, the infrastructure law is boosting our competitiveness and improving our quality of life.
Equipment manufacturers in Nebraska have faced their share of challenges over the past decade. Many of these challenges have been due to infrastructure issues. Traffic congestion has delayed deliveries of parts and components and caused maintenance backlogs. Insufficient investments in inland waterway and port infrastructure have led to higher shipping costs. With roughly 30% of all equipment built in the United States destined for export, inadequate infrastructure has long undermined our ability to meet strong global demand for Nebraska-made equipment, further eroding our industry’s global competitiveness and stymieing job creation.
This is changing. Nebraska has become a magnet for business development and job creation, thanks in large part to the infrastructure law. Take Elliott Equipment Company, which builds aerial work platforms, cranes, and digger derricks here in Omaha. The company’s equipment is used to build and maintain many types of infrastructure the law funded, including Omaha Public Power District transmission projects, improvements to interstate signage and lighting, and broadband infrastructure projects in communities without access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet services. This business growth has led Elliott Equipment Company to invest heavily in new products, facilities, and equipment, creating dozens of new high-paying jobs.
Graepel, a manufacturer of perforated sheet metal products, is another Omaha-based business that has reaped significant benefits from the law. Last year, the company celebrated the expansion of its production site — doubling its operations in Sarpy County — and has added 20 new family-sustaining jobs since 2021. As demand for construction equipment, driven in large part by new infrastructure projects across the country, remains strong, Graepel is poised for continued growth in its construction machinery segment.
Infrastructure spending also has a significant multiplier effect. A 2022 analysis by the World Bank found that every public dollar invested in infrastructure led to $1.50 in resulting economic activity No wonder that the unemployment rate in Nebraska stands around 2.5%, with 18,000 new nonfarm jobs added last year and over 20,000 new business applications filed in 2023. Douglas County had 8,000 of these new business applications, the most in Nebraska. Douglas County is represented by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, one of only two members of the state’s congressional delegation who voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Bacon, who played a key role in shaping the bill and building bipartisan support in the U.S. House, deserves a lot of credit for his leadership and commitment to renewing and revitalizing Nebraska’s physical infrastructure.
As election campaigns kick into high gear, politics is about to become the art of convenience. Lawmakers who voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are busy taking credit for projects made possible by the law. This should come as no surprise. But the fact remains that by reaching communities across Nebraska — including rural communities and historically underserved populations — the law is improving lives for all Nebraskans and positioning the state for continued success. Political disagreements and cynical posturing aside, the infrastructure law continues to deliver for Nebraska.
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