Fourteen Georgia mayors were among 100 mayors from around the country who met with President Donald Trump this week for “Mayors’ Day at the White House: A Conversation with President Trump.”
The White House invited mayors to this event to discuss municipal infrastructure needs and to build relationships between mayors and administration officials. The meeting took place in the East Room of the White House, where President Trump kicked off the program by telling mayors he would announce in his State of the Union address a $1.7 trillion investment in infrastructure.
“We’re partnering with the state and local governments, like yours, to find the most innovative ways to rebuild our roads, bridges, waterways, and airports on time and under budget,” said the President.
Vice President Mike Pence also spoke to our group, and the final part of the meeting featured a panel discussion with cabinet officials including representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce. Agency representatives took questions from several mayors and highlighted the Administration’s priorities, including funding for regionally significant projects and streamlined regulations and permitting times to allow local projects to be completed more quickly.
This event was great opportunity to connect with the White House and federal officials to share local stories and talk about municipal capital improvement needs around the country.
Georgia’s cities will need $11.2 billion over the next five years to pay for critical needs ranging from water and sewer, transportation, and public safety to green infrastructure and recreation facilities.