The award was presented by Jayme Trusty, NADO board member and Executive Director of the Southwest Regional Development Commission (Slayton, MN).  “Senator Klobuchar has been a fierce advocate for economic development and job creation, including making the public investments needed to support vital industries in our state, such as agriculture, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy,” Jayme said. “She has displayed an unwavering commitment to providing new economic opportunities for our nation’s local communities, including small urban and rural regions of Minnesota, and understands that federal programs, such as the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) play a vital role in providing the seed capital or gap financing that is often necessary to spark new private investments in rural areas.”

Jayme continued, “Along with Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, she is the primary author of S. 625, a bill to ensure local elected officials and local communities are given a stronger voice in the investment of federal transportation resources.  She understands that transportation is an essential building block for economic development.”

To view a copy of the entire press release, click here.

The award was presented by Greg Eisenhut, Executive Director of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc., (Mohawk, NY) during the association’s Washington Policy Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

“Representative Hanna is a fierce advocate for economic development and job creation, including making the public investments needed to support vital industries in our state,” said Greg. “He has an unwavering commitment to providing new economic opportunities for our nation’s local communities, including in New York’s 24^th district, and understands that federal programs like EDA play a vital role in providing the seed capital or gap financing that is often necessary to spark new private investments in distressed areas.”

Greg continued, “As Vice Chairman of the House T&I Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Representative Hanna ensured that the House transportation reauthorization bill strengthens the role of local elected officials in working with state DOT officials on transportation planning issues. He understands that the transportation planning process is the gateway for accessing federal surface transportation resources and it is essential for all local communities and their local elected officials to have a stronger voice with our state DOT colleagues.”

To view a copy of the entire press release, click here.