The 6th annual National Infrastructure Week that begins today and lasts through May 21 includes the Business Council of Alabama and the Alliance for Alabama’s Infrastructure, hundreds of organizations, and thousands of leaders serving to educate and advocate the importance of infrastructure to our economy, future, security, and society.
The BCA and the AAI join more than 400 National Infrastructure Week affiliatesthat have united around the issue of bettering America’s infrastructure. The BCA’s two exclusive national partners, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, are members of the National Infrastructure Week steering committee.
“Each year for the past five years, a bipartisan coalition of business groups, think tanks, and labor unions have worked to improve American by highlighting Infrastructure Week,” said William J. Canary, president and CEO of the BCA. “During this week we highlight the critical role our roads, bridges, ports, airports, water and sewer systems, the energy grid, telecoms, and technologies play in making America competitive, prosperous, safe and a truly great place to work and live.”
The discussion of infrastructure improvement has been elevated to a campaign issue in Alabama’s 2018 election cycle. Candidates running for office can’t attend one town hall or local group meeting without hearing frustrations from constituents on the dire road and bridge needs across the state.
Preparations for next year’s legislative session are underway to increase Alabama’s investment in infrastructure to make our state more competitive in the Southeast and the nation as a whole.
National Infrastructure Week is non-partisan and does not take a position on legislation or elections but convenes a national week of education and advocacy that brings together American businesses, workers, elected leaders, and everyday citizens. The message is Americans are waiting, the future will not wait.
Help us tell Alabama’s story of how solving our infrastructure needs is critical to moving our state forward by going on social media and using the hashtag #TimeToBuild.
And don’t forget to lend your voice to the AAI effort by visiting alabamaroads.org.