AED tells mayors, governors to keep construction going

The Associated Equipment Distributors (AEM) delivered letters to national organizations representing mayors, local elected officials and the nation’s governors, urging them to allow construction projects to continue while highlighting the equipment industry’s integral role in building and maintaining the nation’s essential infrastructure.

In a letter to the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined AED to deliver this message: “Shutting down construction projects in cities and towns not only jeopardizes continued relief and prevention efforts surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus), but will also exacerbate an already dire situation with little safety or health benefit.”

AED delivered a similar letter to the National Governors Association, imploring its members to reconsider halting construction projects across the country.

Additionally, AED joined AEM and the Equipment Dealers Association in letters to all 50 governors stressing that equipment manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and service technicians must be considered essential to economic continuity as governors continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic to protect the health and safety of all workers and residents.

According to AED, it has been working with business organizations in Washington, D.C., to ensure lawmakers and the administration understand the importance of liquidity and access to capital for the equipment industry. AED joined allied business organizations outlining tax modifications that will help provide liquidity for small-medium-sized companies.

Established in 1919, AED is an international trade association based in Schaumburg, Illinois, that represents more than 700 construction equipment distributors, manufacturers and industry service firms nationwide. AED members sell, service and rent equipment to markets such as aggregate, mining, heavy and light construction, agriculture, forestry, engines and industrial.

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