Advocacy News – July 21, 2022
Michigan’s aging and deteriorating infrastructure needs major investment and regulatory support to ensure the Great Lakes State is home to modern, efficient and reliable infrastructure that is the backbone of a healthy, thriving economy. From fostering trade and moving goods and services to connecting workers and communities to meeting environmental and societal needs, infrastructure matters.
That’s why the Michigan Chamber is focused on this issue and will be doing a special series highlighting key projects across the state by sharing key data and trends affecting them.
Nationally, the building and construction industry has been hit with unprecedented headwinds.
According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, index pricing for cost inputs for construction, highway and street projects is up nearly 21% from last year alone. Market conditions exacerbated by the pandemic, workforce strain, rising costs and runaway inflation have all led to increased costs to the materials and services needed for Michigan projects.
Supply chain challenges have also illustrated capacity shortages for much-needed aggregate materials that are foundational to road and bridge repair and construction and can be sourced more locally spending.
This aggregate sourcing becomes even more critical given the historic federal and state infrastructure dollars that have been appropriated in the last several months.
So many projects underway are case studies for reforms that will catalyze responsible domestic mining of this aggregate material, according to Mike Alaimo, director of environmental and energy affairs for the Chamber.
Alaimo pointed to the bipartisan legislation of Senate Bills 429-31 that would help ensure Michigan can implement badly needed infrastructure changes that reduce construction costs, fix more roads, put people to work and help protect the environment.
To learn more or suggest an infrastructure project for the Chamber to highlight, contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.