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Education and impact: Springfield asphalt plant industry event
On July 15, local industry professionals toured our plant and heard from Missouri elected officials about the state’s infrastructure. The community explored one of our nine asphalt plants to see what we’ve been up to and how our work is making a difference in Missouri.
Missouri’s commitment to infrastructure
State officials in attendance included Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, State Senator Lincoln Hough and State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. These state leaders shared what the future holds for Missouri’s investment in our industry.
“When we do things like the [Improve I-70 project], those are generational investments,” said Sen. Lincoln Hough. “The state ought to be figuring out ways to rebuild the structures we have all over our communities so that the next generations have every opportunity.”
Significant transportation projects in Missouri include the I-70 improvements, the I-44 corridor and $100 million rural road enhancements. By funding these projects, Missouri is committing to building safer roads ready for the future.
IMPACT OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
ESS leader Brandon Finn spoke about the impact infrastructure investments will have on Springfield and beyond.
“The large investments Missouri is making in our community will have an immediate positive economic impact including job creation and further development,” said Brandon Finn, executive vice president of asphalt operations at ESS. “We are very fortunate that here in Missouri we have strong leaders that understand the importance of responsible government and infrastructure investment.”
Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe showed the return on investment through job creation. “Every billion dollars spent in infrastructure creates about 20,000 jobs…The highway program we have now is close to a 5-billion dollar program, which is 100,000 jobs created across the state.”
BEHIND THE SCENES
Showcasing our plant to the public gave an inside look at our technology and how our asphalt is used in the region. Our employee-owners turned into tour guides and educated attendees on how ESS contributes to the transportation system, both locally and statewide.
“Productivity is one of mankind’s greatest virtues,” said Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “This plant represents a monument to that virtue.”
