In our February issue, we feature the impact the new presidential administration's stimulus package will have on the pump industry, particularly with regard to infrastructure rebuilding in the water and wastewater sectors.
We talked with several “in the loop” industry experts and association leaders who all agree that this package can only mean positive things for pump community.
At press time, Barack Obama had not yet been inaugurated and the details of his economic recovery plan were not public. Therefore, the article is pure speculation—although highly reliable speculation. We are proud to bring you this information.
Here is a taste of what you'll read in the article:
Facing perhaps the most desolate financial outlook since World War II, U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to unveil an economic-recovery package that could include large investments in energy, education, infrastructure and health care. The amount of stimulus and how it affects the pump industry is yet to be determined.
“As of this time, it is anyone's guess how big the stimulus package will be, but it will likely be of historic proportion from all the chatter we are hearing on Capitol Hill and in the press—anywhere in the range of $500 billion up to a trillion,” says Dawn Kristof Champney, president of the Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association, Inc. (WWEMA). “The only real number I have heard to date is from Congressman James Oberstar who heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is recommending that $9 to $12 billion be included for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.”
Some sources report the package could be upward of $775 billion.
Thanks to pump-zone.com, we have the opportunity to update you daily online and continue to provide more in-depth coverage in print. We plan to cover the stimulus package story closely throughout the year through both mediums. Check my blog daily for timely reports on the progress of the package.
Do you have opinions, theories or further speculation about this package? If so, we have an excellent new forum—PumpConnect—where our readers can blog, network and discuss this and other issues with friends in the industry. We invite you to join us on this completely user-generated space created just for you! It is the perfect place to visit daily, express your opinions, network with others in the pump community and debate critical industry issues.