Usually when Vegas sees a parade of construction equipment going down the street, it’s a fun event, such as JCB’s famous Dancing Diggers. But the staged event planned for tomorrow will be much more somber. This time, the caravan will feature construction equipment that’s been idled by lack of work. It’s all part of what the Association of Equipment Manufacturers is calling a grassroots campaign to reauthorize highway funding and get construction back to work. Here are the details:
WHAT:
A rally of construction equipment workers and other allies will be held in Las Vegas to launch Start Us Up USA! This national grassroots campaign calls on the federal government to reauthorize transportation funding for road construction and spur a jobs recovery. At the conclusion of the rally, a caravan of idle heavy construction equipment will parade down Las Vegas Boulevard.
WHY:
Insufficient federal investment in transportation improvements has contributed to a deep depression of the construction equipment industry and significant job loss. Local companies have felt the impact including Las Vegas’ Cashman Equipment Company, one of the largest privately-owned employers in Nevada, whose sales are down by 50 percent. Federal transportation funding expires on September 30, and representatives will talk about how time is running out for the men and women of the construction and equipment industries. They will release a new report from IHS Global Insight detailing the problem and discuss how road construction projects are critical to ease traffic congestion and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness, like the much needed improvements underway to Interstate 15 through Las Vegas.
SPEAKERS:
- Toby Mack, President and CEO, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
- Dennis Slater, President, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
- MaryKaye Cashman, Chairman and CEO, Cashman Equipment Company
- Other local business leaders who understand the importance of transportation investments
WHEN:
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 10 a.m. with a formal presentation
WHERE:
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 3150 Paradise Road, Gold Lot 4
DETAILS
Following formal remarks, heavy construction equipment will “start up” its engines and caravan down the Las Vegas Strip
VISUALS:
- Caravan of idle construction equipment on Las Vegas Boulevard
- Dozens of local construction workers rallying to protect their jobs
- Display of several new pieces of construction equipment that remains unsold due to the construction downturn
Media Contact: Rich Jefferson at AEM, 414-274-0655, [email protected]
