An Oregon lawmaker is in line for a hefty honor as the state looks to boost infrastructure efforts among the West Coast states and British Columbia.
Rep. Tobias Read, a Beaverton Democrat, was named as a finalist in the NewDEAL"New Ideas Challenge." Read's leading the charge to develop the West Coast Infrastructure Exchange, which aims to add more jobs in contracting realms, among other sectors.
NewDEAL looks to nurture"smart, pro-growth progressive solutions" that can be rolled out across the country.
The West Cost Infrastructure Exchange seeks to attract private investments for public projects, as well as bundle smaller projects and share best practices while taking climate change matters into account.
The region faces a $1 trillion infrastructure financing gap over the next 30 years.
"Because of Tobias's work in the legislature on ideas like the West Coast Infrastructure Exchange, Oregon is on track to address our region's infrastructure needs - creating family wage jobs and investing in Oregon's future," said John Mohlis, executive secretary of the Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council, in a release.
"This project is serving as a model to the rest of the country, as every other state in the nation is facing significant infrastructure challenges. Already, this innovative idea is being copied in other parts of the country."
Source: Portland Business Journal
