President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan to rebuild the economy and create good-paying jobs for workers in America’s cities, towns and villages through investments in infrastructure and workforce development.

The League has advocated for additional investment in infrastructure in the traditional sense (roads, bridges, water, and sewer), but also in a more broad-based community infrastructure view (broadband, housing, parks and workforce development). This plan addresses many of those areas.  Below are some key highlights of the President’s proposal.

Transportation:

• $115 billion for bridges, highways and roads.
• $20 billion for roadway safety.
• $85 billion to modernize existing transit and for expansion.
• $174 billion for domestic investments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, including tax incentives and grants for state and local government and the private sector in support of the installation of 500,000 new electric vehicle charging stations by 2030.
• $20 billion for a new equity program that provides transportation accessibility in disadvantaged areas.
• $25 billion in dedicated funds to support large and complex projects with regional and national economic benefits.
• $50 billion for infrastructure resilience including rail, roads and other transportation assets.

Water:

• $111 billion to ensure clean, safe drinking water and upgrade and modernize wastewater and stormwater systems, including:
  • $45 billion to eliminate all lead pipes and services lines through grants and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund;
  • $10 billion to monitor and remediate PFAS contamination in drinking water and to invest in rural small water systems and household well and wastewater systems, including drainage fields; and
  • $56 billion in grants and low-cost flexible loans to states, Tribes, territories and disadvantaged communities across the country.

Broadband:

• $100 billion for affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband infrastructure.
• Build broadband infrastructure to reach 100% of the population.
• Remove barriers to municipal broadband and prioritize support for networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, nonprofits, and electric cooperatives.
• Promote price transparency among broadband providers and work towards affordability for all households.

Housing and Community Development:

• $213 billion to build and rehabilitate affordable housing for low- and middle-income residents.
• New competitive grants to incentivize ending local prohibitions on multi-family housing (duplex and fourplex).
• $40 billion for public housing maintenance, repair, and capital improvements.
• $5 billion to remediate and redevelop brownfield and superfund sites.

Airports:

• $25 billion in airport improvements

Ports and Waterways:

• $17 billion for inland waterways, coastal ports, land ports of entry, and ferries, including a “Healthy Ports” program to mitigate the cumulative impacts of air pollution on communities near ports.

Rail:

• $80 billion for Amtrak and other passenger and freight rail to improve the rail network.

Climate and Energy:

• $50 billion to improve infrastructure resilience by targeting investments in those communities most vulnerable physically and financially to climate-driven disasters and to build back above existing codes and standards, including through FEMA’s Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program among others.
• $100 billion to build a more resilient electric transmission system, modernize power generation and promote clean electricity, including:
  • Establish an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard;
  • Support for clean energy block grants for state, local and tribal governments;
  • $10 billion to mobilize the next generation of conservation and resilience workers through a new Civilian Climate Corps to conserve public lands and waters, bolster community resilience and advance environmental justice.

Workforce Development:

• $100 billion in workforce development programming to ensure workers have the skills to succeed, including:
  • $40 billion in a new Dislocated Worker Program and sector-based training including wrap-around services, income supports, counseling and case-management;
  • $12 billion in targeted workforce development programming for underserved communities and communities hit hard by a transforming economy; and

Schools/Early Learning Facilities

• $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools through $50 billion in direct grants and an additional $50 billion through leveraged bonds.
• $12 billion to address physical and technological infrastructure needs at community colleges and to identify strategies to address access to community colleges in education deserts.
• $25 billion to upgrade child care facilities and increase the supply of child care in areas that need it most.

Main Street and Small Business Support:

• $31 billion to create a national network of small business incubators and innovation hubs that give small businesses access to credit, venture capital, and R&D dollars.
• $20 billion Community Revitalization Fund to support at least ten regional innovation hubs to link urban and rural economies, close gaps in racial equity, and create new businesses in distressed regions.

John LaMacchia is the Assistant Director of State and Federal Affairs for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, energy and environment issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.