Governor Whitmer Announces Leadership of Michigan Infrastructure Office

Governor Whitmer Announces Leadership of Michigan Infrastructure Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <_o3a_p>

January 28, 2022 <_o3a_p>

Contact: [email protected] <_o3a_p>

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Governor Whitmer Announces Leadership of Michigan Infrastructure Office <_o3a_p>

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LANSING, Mich. -Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Chief Infrastructure Officer, who will direct the newly-formed Michigan Infrastructure Office, and a Senior Advisor of the newly-formed Michigan Infrastructure Office. <_o3a_p>

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"Since day one, I have been focused on putting Michiganders first and fixing the damn roads. I am proud of the progress we've made over the last three years, and the Michigan Infrastructure Office will help us continue investing in our roads, bridges, lead pipes, electric vehicle chargers, high-speed internet, and so much more," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Both Zachary and Tiffany have been key members of my executive office for years, and we will continue collaborating as they step into their new roles at the Michigan Infrastructure Office. I look forward to the year ahead and will work with anyone to make commutes faster and safer, protect safe drinking water, expand high-speed internet, electrify our roads, and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs." <_o3a_p>

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"The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act represents a generational investment in workers, and the Michigan Infrastructure Office will play an important role to make sure that we spend these resources effectively," said Tom Lutz, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. "We support Governor Whitmer's decision to create this office and look forward to engaging with its new leadership to support good-paying jobs and long-lasting improvements to Michigan's infrastructure. Union families built Michigan and form the backbone of the middle class, and now we stand ready to work with the Michigan Infrastructure Office to advance that proud legacy for the benefit of all Michiganders." <_o3a_p>

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The engineering community looks forward to collaborating with the new Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office as we make critical investments in Michigan's infrastructure," said Ron Brenke, Executive Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies. "Engineering Companies have a wide array of expertise and experience that can be utilized for various projects that will best serve Michigan residents." <_o3a_p>

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Zachary Kolodin, Chief Infrastructure Officer & Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office <_o3a_p>

Zachary Kolodin will serve as Chief Infrastructure Officer and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. <_o3a_p>

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Currently, he is Governor Whitmer's Public Policy Counsel. Before joining the executive office, he was an associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP and served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Edward R. Korman. Previously, he worked in the Office of Grants Policy and Operations at Americorps, and as a program administrator at the Roosevelt Institute, a New York City-based think tank. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York University School of Law. <_o3a_p>

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Tiffany Brown, Senior Advisor at the Michigan Infrastructure Office <_o3a_p>

Tiffany Brown will serve as Senior Advisor at the Michigan Infrastructure Office. <_o3a_p>

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Currently, she is Governor Whitmer's Communications Director and has been with the administration since day one. Before joining the governor's office, she served as Public Information Officer for the Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan State Police. She also served as Deputy Press Secretary under former Governor Jennifer Granholm. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint and Michigan State University. <_o3a_p>

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Michigan Infrastructure Office <_o3a_p>

Governor Whitmer established the MichiganInfrastructure Office to ensure resources sent to Michigan under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, are used effectively and efficiently to repair roads and bridges, replace lead pipes, expand high-speed internet, and build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The office will be responsible for organizingand executing the governor'svision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshalling resources, and partnering with localofficial, federal partners, and outside stakeholders. <_o3a_p>

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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act <_o3a_p>

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actwill send billions of dollars to Michigan to help Governor Whitmer continue fixing the damn roadsandbridges, replace lead service lines, expand the state's electric vehicle charging network, deliver high-speed internet to more families and businesses, and so much more.    <_o3a_p>

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Fixing the Damn Roads <_o3a_p>

Since Governor Whitmer took office, the State of Michigan has repaired, rebuilt, or rehabilitated 13,198 lane miles of road and 903 bridges. In the 2021 bipartisan state budget, she invested $196 million to repair or replace nearly 100 local bridgesin serious or critical condition, creating 2,500 jobs.  <_o3a_p>

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Governor Whitmer's five-year, $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michiganbond plan to build up state highways and bridges without an increase at the pump is underway is underway, with construction underway on I-496, I-94, and other projects. These projects are supporting approximately 22,800 construction jobs and an additional 21,700 jobs in other industries.  <_o3a_p>

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