Cashman Equipment recently helped kick off a nationwide grassroots campaign, Start Us Up USA!, which calls on the federal government to move quickly to reauthorize a critical multi-year transportation bill. Construction workers and business leaders gathered for a press conference and rally featuring industry professionals from the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), and Cashman Equipment.

Following the event, a caravan of heavy construction equipment, idled by a scarcity of new federal funding in transportation, paraded down the Las Vegas Strip.

The Caterpillar dealership donated several pieces of heavy equipment to the parade of machines, creating a sight not often seen in the heart of Las Vegas. However, with huge projects like the renovations to the I-15 at risk without a new multi-year reauthorization bill from Congress, local industry leaders such as MaryKaye Cashman, chairman and CEO of Cashman Equipment, rushed to support the event.

“Our Caterpillar dealership has experienced a decline in sales by 50 percent, and has 25 percent fewer employees today than at its peak a few years ago,” Cashman stated. “We need action taken now in order to create jobs — sustainable jobs that will put people back to work. Highway and construction projects are the fastest way to do so.”

Cashman’s comments during the rally were seconded by Toby Mack, president and CEO, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED); Dennis Slater, president, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); Randy Highland, president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Association of General Contractors (AGC); and other local business leaders who understand the importance of transportation investments.

The renewal and expansion of the Highway Reauthorization Bill will provide the necessary funding for the nation’s infrastructure, which will spur a jobs recovery. Improvement projects give communities more transit options, safer roads, improve congested roads, and decrease greenhouse gases while providing millions of construction jobs. Federal transportation funding expired on Sept. 30, but rally organizers AED and AEM believe this event and others to be held across the country, will help motivate Congress to take immediate action. The final Start Us Up USA! rally is scheduled to be held Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C.

For more information on Cashman Equipment, visit www.cashmanequipment.com.

For more information on AEM, visit www.aem.org.

For more information on AED, visit www.aednet.org.

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