Other Highlights
City of Los Angeles
ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2009
Contact:
Lisa Hansen
213-978-0658
or 213-978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA CELEBRATES CLEAN TECH JOB CREATION IN LOS ANGELES
2,200 jobs to be created by AnsaldoBreda in partnership with Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Community Redevelopment Agency
LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the job and economic benefits expected as a result of the planned construction of the AnsaldoBreda factory following last week's MTA decision. The project is expected to create 2,200 new full time jobs and almost 1000 temporary construction jobs “With this agreement, we have reinforced the foundation of economic prosperity in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “The rail cars on the Gold Line to the San Gabriel Valley, the Crenshaw line, and the Expo line will proudly bear the label “Made in LA,” and at a time when most cities are losing jobs, we will be bringing them back home.“
“The whole region stands to benefit from the creation of good paying “green” jobs in the industrial corridor where these rail cars will be manufactured,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Chair Ara Najarian. “And the plant will be a lodestone for attracting other manufacturers who will tap into the market for clean technology to build for the future. This plant will be a catalyst for rebuilding the manufacturing base that will benefit the entire region.”
The MTA voted last week to purchase 100 AnsaldoBreda cars to be used on MTA's current and future light rail system, including the Gold Line, the Expo line, and the Crenshaw line. The project is expected to create 2,200 new full-time direct and indirect jobs and almost 1000 temporary construction jobs
AnsaldoBreda will be one of the anchor tenants of the CleanTech Corridor, a cornerstone of the Mayor's plan to make Los Angeles into the cleanest, greenest City by attracting clean technology companies to a redeveloped site in the industrial core east of downtown.
"Today we’re saying yes to clean and green jobs that improve our communities and treat residents with respect and dignity, offering up a brighter future for them and their children," said Councilmember and MTA Director José Huizar. "This is truly environmental justice delivered -- for Boyle Heights, for East L.A. and for all Los Angeles."
AnsaldoBreda's factory will be built to green construction standards/LEED-certified and will create direct employment for researchers, designers and workers, while also triggering growth in indirect jobs like legal services, accounting and environmental consulting. Light rail is a clean and efficient means of mass transit.
“The region needs jobs, and Metro needs rail cars. This is a partnership that will benefit our region for years to come,” said Metro Board Member John Fasana.
“At a time when we are facing historic economic challenges nothing is more important than creating good jobs,” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “Jobs must be the priority for government, business and labor. It is not every day that Los Angeles has a manufacturer coming knocking on the door offering to generate more than 2,200 jobs as opposed to sending them overseas.”
“AnsaldoBreda is here to stay, and we want to be an integral partner in helping develop the finest transportation system and creating the best jobs in the area,” said Jeff Capaccio, AnsaldoBreda General Counsel.
"What made California great 100 years ago was that we built the rail system. What's going to make Los Angeles great now is building light rail cars for the mobility of Southern California in the future,” said Councilmember Tom LaBonge.
"This is a major step in realizing our vision for the CleanTech Corridor and for making Los Angeles the cleantech capital of the nation," said Cecilia V. Estolano, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles.
The LAEDC’s analysis of the economic benefits of this project can be viewed at:
http://www.laedc.org/reports/consulting/2009_BredaRailEconomicImpact.pdf