U.S. Rep. Castor Listens to Tampa Manufacturing Company to Discuss Ways to Grow Local Jobs

Press Release

The list goes on, but the Tampa International Airport interchange, Platt Street Bridge, MacDill Air Force Base Central Command and MOSI's Kids in Charge are just some of the local projects that used Tampa Tank, Inc./Florida Structural Steel (TTI/FSS) to fabricate and erect structural steel and other infrastructure products.

TTI/FSS has been a privately owned business located in Tampa for more than 60 years. It has 200 local employees, and is under continuous recruitment.

"Our neighbors and small businesses benefit when we not only invest in our local infrastructure, but also prioritize local businesses as contractors for those types of projects," said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on March 28 after she toured TTI/FSS and announced her support of Invest in American Jobs Act of 2013.

"Strengthening the Buy America program for federal investments in highway, bridge, public transit, rail and aviation infrastructure and equipment will mean more local manufacturing jobs."

Invest in American Jobs Act of 2013 is recent legislation cosponsored by Rep. Castor to spur job creation in the United States and foster local manufacturing. Strengthening Buy America ensures that all of the steel, iron and manufactured goods used in federally funded transportation infrastructure projects are produced in the United States. In addition, domestic sourcing preferences would increase from 60 percent under current law to 100 percent by FY2017.

"In addition to improving procurement policies that support American businesses and the overall American economy, local companies have a vested interest to provide quality products and services," said David Hale, president of TTI/FSS.

Studies indicate that nearly 35,000 jobs are created for every $1 billion in new infrastructure investment.

"Our unemployment has made great gains, but we still need more jobs," Rep. Castor said. "Investing in infrastructure and, just as importantly, investing in American businesses will create new jobs."

Source