Advocates of expanded infrastructure projects announced today the launch of the Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now (MAIN), a coalition of stakeholders from labor, business, and agriculture communities. The coalition will support the economic development and energy security benefits associated with infrastructure projects in the Midwest. MAIN members will be present at the upcoming North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing in Mandan in support of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
“Projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline present a significant economic opportunity both for our state and region as a whole,” said Pam Link of the Laborers District of North Dakota and Minnesota. “The responsible construction of new infrastructure means the creation of thousands of new jobs, new tax revenue for our community, and billions of dollars in private capital investment. MAIN will help keep the diverse benefits of the project at the center of the debate.”
The expansion of infrastructure will provide further economic opportunities for the state. “Supporting efforts to increase infrastructure helps fuel our state’s economy,” said Andy Peterson of the North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce. “North Dakota has seen a tremendous amount of investment in infrastructure in recent years, and construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline is a major part of this growing investment and keeping our state’s economy on a path toward continued prosperity.”
“With the domestic energy sector growing steadily, the methods by which energy resources are safely transported from field to market have never been more important to our nation’s economic well-being, or to our pursuit of energy independence,” continued Ed Wiederstein, former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau and MAIN coalition chairman. “Modern infrastructure is bringing us closer to energy independence and benefitting farmers and other commodity shippers across the region by keeping prices low and reducing the congestion and backlog currently present within the region’s rail network.”
Other members of MAIN include the North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties, and more. In the weeks ahead, MAIN will announce the addition of new members throughout the Midwest. The Alliance’s website, www.MWAllianceNow.org, will be updated regularly with new information, blog posts, and other materials relevant to the ongoing debate surrounding infrastructure projects in the Midwest.
About MAIN: The Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now (MAIN) is a partnership of entities from agriculture, business, and labor sectors aimed at supporting the economic development and energy security benefits associated with infrastructure projects in the Midwest. MAIN is a project of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council. Visit us online at www.MWAllianceNow.org.