Portman, Brown, House Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral POWER Act to Support Economic Opportunity in Dayton Area

Press Release

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) was joined by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representatives Mike Turner (R-OH), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Bill Johnson (R-OH) in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will support economic opportunity in the greater Dayton region. The Providing Opportunities for Wider Economic Revitalization (POWER) Act would require the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to release all of its reversionary rights to the former AVETEC building located in Springfield, Ohio once it is transferred to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Springfield -- Clark County, Ohio, a local non-profit economic development organization.

The facility was constructed in 2009 with grant funding from the Department of Energy's NNSA to support advanced modeling and simulation for turbine engines, but the building is currently sitting largely vacant. Dissolving the federal government's interest in the property will allow for the CIC to attract greater economic investment and bring more economic opportunity to the Springfield community.

"The POWER Act is a common-sense bill that will benefit both the federal government as well as our local community and economy," said Senator Portman. "By removing the federal government's interest in the former AVETEC building located in Springfield, Ohio, and transferring it to the local economic development corporation, this opens opportunities for job creation and puts the building in the hands of the local community who know the region best."

"The transfer of the AVETEC facility to the CIC is commonsense -- it would help create jobs, boosting the local economy," said Senator Brown. "I am proud to work with the local business community on this bipartisan legislation and will work to see it passed into law this year."

"I have strongly advocated for the AVETEC building to be released to the Springfield community and am glad it was included in the House-passed version of the FY 2022 NDAA. The transfer of this building to the CIC in Southwest Ohio will help spur economic development in our community and gainfully employ an asset currently underutilized by the Department of Energy," said Congressman Turner.

"When the federal government no longer has a purpose for a building or property, putting it in the hands of local economic developers for a more productive use is a no-brainer," said Congressman Ryan. "I'm proud to have joined with other members of the Ohio delegation to introduce this legislation to help drive economic growth in Ohio."