WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Turner recently joined U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in introducing bipartisan and bicameral legislation that will support economic opportunity in the greater Dayton region. The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Steve Chabot (R-OH). The Providing Opportunities for Wider Economic Revitalization (POWER) Act would authorize the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the Department of Energy to release all of its reversionary rights to the former AVETEC building located in Springfield, Ohio and transfer it to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Springfield – Clark County, Ohio, a local non-profit economic development organization.
“I have strongly advocated for the AVETEC building to be released to the Springfield community and am glad it was included in the House-passed version of the FY 2022 NDAA. The transfer of this building to the CIC in Southwest Ohio will help spur economic development in our community and gainfully employ an asset currently underutilized by the Department of Energy,” said Congressman Turner.
“The POWER Act is a common-sense bill that will benefit both the federal government as well as our local community and economy,” said Senator Portman. “By removing the federal government’s interest in the former AVETEC building located in Springfield, Ohio, and transferring it to the local economic development corporation, this opens opportunities for job creation and puts the building in the hands of the local community who know the region best.”
“The transfer of the AVETEC facility to the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is common sense – it would help create jobs, boosting the local economy,” said Senator Brown. “I am proud to work with the local business community on this bipartisan legislation and will work to see it passed into law this year.”
“When the federal government no longer has a purpose for a building or property, putting it in the hands of local economic developers for a more productive use is a no-brainer,” said Congressman Ryan. “I’m proud to have joined with other members of the Ohio delegation to introduce this legislation to help drive economic growth in Ohio.”
“Removing federal interest in the AVETEC building will help accelerate economic interest in the region by returning control to state and local entities,” said Congressman Chabot. “The POWER Act accomplishes that goal and will help revitalize development throughout Southwest Ohio.”
Background: This facility was built in 2009 with federal grants distributed by the Department of Energy with the purpose of supporting advanced modeling and simulation for turbine engines. Full text of the House bill introduced by Rep. Mike Turner (H.R. 6065) can be found here.
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