November 26, 2021
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Officials hope new infrastructure law will make a difference in Oshkosh-but no one knows for sure what may be coming - Oshkosh Examiner

This type of equipment is expected to be in heavy use once specific projects begin.

By Miles Maguire

If you heard all the news about the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed last week, you might be wondering when all that money will work its way down to Oshkosh and what its impact will be.

You would not be alone. But at this point, no one seems to have solid information on how much money will be available in Oshkosh or when.

“I’m not counting on the money anytime soon,” said City Manager Mark Rohloff. “We haven’t heard anything.” He thinks the bulk of the money will filter down through state governments.

But local legislators haven’t heard anything either. Rep. Gordon Hintz, whose Assembly district encompasses most of the city, said he expects the money to “provide transformational investment in Wisconsin over the next five years.” But he was unable to offer specifics on amounts, timing or types of projects that are coming this way.

Wall Street expects Oshkosh Corp. to be a big winner from the new law, since it makes concrete mixers and overhead access equipment that is used in construction. But the company took a pass last week on describing how the infrastructure law would affect it.

“We do not have a comment to contribute to your story on the infrastructure bill,” a spokesperson said.

One nearby company, Neenah Foundry, said that it is expecting good things from the law. Officials there praised Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin for her work to include Buy American provisions in the law.

Although it’s hard to find out specifics on how the new spending will make a difference in Oshkosh or Winnebago County, here’s a general summary based on a Wisconsin fact sheet published by the White House earlier this year.

According to the White House, Wisconsin can expect to see:

  • $5.2 billion for federal highway aid and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs.
  • $592 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.
  • $79 million over five years to support the expansion of a charging network in the state for electric vehicles.
  • A minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state as well as extension of the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access, to 22% of state residents.
  • $20 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $18 million to protect against cyberattacks as well as some portion of the $3.5 billion national allocation for weatherization.
  • $841 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state.

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source: https://oshkoshexaminer.com/officials-hope-new-infrastructure-law-will-make-a-difference-in-oshkosh-but-no-one-knows-for-sure-what-may-be-coming/

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