Mayor Brown, other Ohio mayors support infrastructure plans

YOUNGSTOWN — A bipartisan plan for long-term infrastructure investment could help cities like Youngstown make civic improvements through additional COVID-19 pandemic relief.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework plan worked out between Congressional Democrats and Republicans as well as the White House would invest $1.2 trillion in cities to improve roads, bridges, transit, rail networks, highways, green infrastructure and more. The plan would also address disparities in the economy and the consequences of decades of disinvestment in America's infrastructure that have fallen heavily on communities of color, according to the White House fact sheet.

This money would invest in the economic competitiveness of the country and rebuild the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the Ohio Mayors Alliance.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown told Mahoning Matters Thursday that the infrastructure plan will be separate from the $82.7 million that the city of Youngstown is expecting to receive from the American Rescue Plan.

"This is just another great opportunity to make a legacy opportunity for communities to impact the future," Brown said.

Youngstown could use the funds to improve roads, bridges, underground infrastructure, broadband and mitigate lead issues in water systems, he said.

More details are still expected from the White House on the plan, and the city does not know how much it will receive since the infrastructure plan is still in negotiations, Brown said.

The infrastructure project could improve infrastructure not just for Youngstown, but cities across the country that have fallen behind.

"These monies can be used directly for infrastructure so it's going to be a great impact for the community," Brown said.

Brown met virtually with four Ohio mayors on Thursday to express their support of the federal, bipartisan infrastructure deal announced last week by the White House, according to a press release from the Ohio Mayors Alliance.

The mayors are supportive of the framework outlined, and encouraged that it does not attempt to repurpose previously allocated American Rescue Plan funds.

The group of mayors urged Congress to continue negotiations and pass legislation.

"We're just encouraging Congress to know how important these infrastructure dollars can be," Brown said.

This story was originally published July 2, 2021 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Mayor Brown, other Ohio mayors support infrastructure plans."