Lakewood mayor visits Washington, D.C., meets with Biden Administration

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — As a part of the “Communities in Motion: Constructing a Higher Ohio” discussion board, Lakewood Mayor Meghan George earlier this month joined different Buckeye State civic leaders who met with Biden Administration officers in Washington, D.C.

“The White Home kicked off the collection of assembly with native leaders to speak concerning the impacts of the unprecedented federal {dollars} coming to municipalities,” George stated. “They began with Ohio.

“I used to be excited and thrilled to be part of the dialog with the Biden Administration and different leaders across the state to speak about these federal {dollars} which might be making a considerable impression on all of our communities.”

Specializing in the impression of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, the CHIPS Act and different latest federal actions, the “Communities in Motion: Constructing a Higher Ohio” discussion board was additionally attended by mayors from Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Akron, Youngstown, Elyria, Lorain, Lima and Athens.

When it comes to initiatives and initiatives that supplied pandemic aid, in addition to invested in the way forward for Lakewood, the mayor mentioned how the town earmarked $25 million of its $47 million in ARPA cash into the town’s water-sewer infrastructure wants.

“We mentioned this with the Biden Administration figuring out that we’ve got over $300 million value of labor to do when it comes to water-sewer,” George stated. “This helps put a down fee on our future.

“What’s so necessary is that each single ratepayer in our group advantages by having these ARPA {dollars} go in the direction of water-sewer as a result of we’re in a position to cut back beforehand permitted water and sewer charges.”

Although it was a brief journey to the nation’s capital, and George didn’t get an opportunity to satisfy President Biden, she stated the “Communities in Motion: Constructing a Higher Ohio” discussion board was a worthwhile expertise.

“It’s at all times useful to work together with different mayors,” George stated. “The Ohio Mayors Alliance Management was there as properly. It was nice to speak and meet with different leaders from across the state of Ohio and have these conversations to deliver again concepts to our group.”

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