Biden Investment creates Jobs

Leading manufacturers in the United States have committed to new investments and job creation in response to President Biden’s historic $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Investing in America agenda. Senior executives from major U.S.-based manufacturers and distributors of water infrastructure parts joined officials from the Biden-Harris Administration at the White House to announce these private sector investments. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a significant investment in the nation’s water infrastructure, with $15 billion specifically designated for replacing lead service lines. This investment marks a transformative increase in federal funding for the country’s drinking water infrastructure over the next five years. President Biden’s requirement to use Made in-America products when using federal funding for infrastructure rebuilding not only aims to fix water systems and replace lead pipes but also seeks to create well-paying jobs and stimulate domestic manufacturing.

To meet the growing demand for American-made water products, manufacturers in the United States are increasing their production capacity through new investments, thereby creating jobs and strengthening the country’s industrial capabilities. Administration officials have emphasized the importance of collaborating with unions to ensure that these investments contribute to the growth of the middle class from the bottom up.

This week, several firms announced significant manufacturing investments and commitments to hiring:

• A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co., a 167-year-old family business based in Iowa, plans to build a state-of-the-art brass foundry in Wisconsin. They have already expanded their Tennessee facility by 100,000 square feet and increased their production workforce by 45% since the end of 2020.
  
• Cerro Flow Products, an Illinois-based pipe manufacturer, is looking to hire 23 individuals for union jobs at their Sauget facility. They are ready to add additional shifts and utilize manufacturing capabilities at other sites to meet the increased demand.
  
• Commercial Forged Products, based in Illinois, intends to invest $9 million in additional forging and ancillary equipment. They will create 15 new United Steelworker positions and hire four skilled machinists in their Bedford Park facility.
  
• The Ford Meter Box Company, headquartered in Indiana, is expanding its production capacity by hiring new employees, adding shifts, and investing in new equipment. They are planning to construct a new state-of-the-art foundry and make downstream manufacturing investments.
  
• Mueller Water Products, based in Atlanta, has invested approximately $150 million in expanding its U.S. production capacity, including a new brass foundry in Decatur, Illinois. These investments will increase their production capacity for water infrastructure products.
  
• Quality Steel Products, a Michigan-based firm, is expanding its business by adding employees and shifts and making significant investments in new equipment.
  

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan, combined with annual appropriations, have provided historic levels of funding to replace all lead service lines in the country within the next decade. These investments are subject to the Build America, Buy America Act, which requires infrastructure projects to use American-made iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rejuvenating American manufacturing, creating well-paying jobs, and revitalizing once struggling communities. Since taking office, nearly 800,000 new manufacturing jobs have been created, and private sector companies have announced over $480 billion in manufacturing and clean energy investments. The recent announcements further demonstrate President Biden’s commitment to industrial policy that generates employment and rebuilds the country’s manufacturing capabilities while ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for all.