Equipment manufacturers prod voters to advance infrastructure investment

“Equipped to Vote,” the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ first-ever national get-out-the-vote campaign, will focus on infrastructure policy and its role in keeping the economy and members of the Milwaukee group strong.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of a healthy economy. Investing in our nation’s infrastructure will revitalize manufacturing communities across the country,” says AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg. “Equipped to Vote will make sure the 2.8 million men and women of our industry know just how critical infrastructure is to their jobs and communities. Whether Republican or a Democrat, you cannot claim to be a pro-manufacturing candidate unless you unequivocally support rebuilding and modernizing our nation’s roads and bridges, ports and waterways.”

Long-term, sustainable investment in U.S. infrastructure is essential to creating family sustaining jobs, growing the economy, and reclaiming the nation’s infrastructure advantage, AEM contends. The group stresses the importance of electing candidates on November 3 who will support policies to adequately fund infrastructure construction, maintenance, and modernization. Since its August launch as a nationwide effort, Equipped to Vote has engaged, educated, and mobilized thousands of new voters on why they should support pro-manufacturing candidates during this election cycle. Early on the campaign was geared to educating voters about the importance of free and fair trade; AEM will switch the focus this month to the need to support and revitalize rural America.

A digital action center at www.equippedtovote.org is a one-stop-shop for anyone looking to get involved, including how to register to vote, learn who is running in their district and state, and take action to help elect candidates who support the equipment manufacturing industry. Employee participants will have the opportunity to win weekly prizes, as well as a grand prize at the end of the campaign.

Equipped to Vote is a close partnership with AEM members. Among the nearly 50 companies enlisted in the campaign is elevating work platform and telehandler manufacturer JLG Industries Inc., McConnellsburg, Pa.

“JLG started the access industry with the introduction of the boom lift in 1969,” notes President Frank Nerenhausen. “Though we have exponentially grown its original footprint, we retain our original manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters still today and are proud supporters of American manufacturing.”

“JLG has been a steadfast supporter of our efforts to promote policies essential to growing equipment manufacturing in the United States. The state of U.S. manufacturing is clearly on the minds of many voters this election year. That is why it is critical that we give them the tools and resources they need to be educated come election day,” Eideberg concludes.