The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest long-term investment in
our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The need for action in
Mississippi is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Mississippi. For decades,
infrastructure in Mississippi has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Mississippi a D+ grade on its
infrastructure report card. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will
make life better for millions of Mississippi residents, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win
the 21st century.
To date, $2.2 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to Mississippi with over 174 specific projects identified for funding.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, Mississippi will receive
approximately $1.6 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and roughly $75 million for clean water. And, as of today,
more than 175,000 households across the state are receiving affordable high-speed internet due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Many more projects will
be added in the coming months, as funding opportunities become grant awards
and as formula funds become specific projects. By reaching communities across
Mississippi – including rural communities and historically underserved populations
– the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for Mississippians and
position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In Mississippi there are 1,386 bridges and over 5,840 miles
of highway in poor condition. Mississippi is home to 5 of the 8 longest highway
bridges in the world. Almost 9% of Mississippi’s bridges are in poor condition
and considered structurally deficient. The American Road and Transportation
Builder’s Association estimates $1.6 billion is needed for bridge repairs
throughout the state. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 5.6% in
Mississippi and on average, each driver pays $637 per year in costs due to
driving on roads in need of repair.
- Based on formula funding alone, Mississippi would expect to receive $3.3
billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for
bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act over five (5) years.
- Mississippi can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program
for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national
funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial
economic benefits to communities.
- Rail and Transit. Mississippi’s public transit systems serve a vital role in
connecting the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical
services. Residents of Mississippi who take public transportation spend an
extra 87.7% of their time commuting. 41% of trains and other transit vehicles in
the state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, Mississippi would expect to receive $223
million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to
improve public transportation options across the state.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. The IIJA invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Mississippi would expect to receive $51 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- Mississippi will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- Broadband. Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs,
to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected.
17.8% of Mississippians live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark, there
is no broadband infrastructure. Even where infrastructure is available,
broadband may be too expensive to be within reach. 23% of Mississippi
households do not have an internet subscription.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Mississippi will receive
a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
531,000 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 1,181,000 or 41% of people in Mississippi will be
eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
- Clean Water/Wastewater. The law contains nearly $44 billion to strengthen the
nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead pipes and
service lines, and eliminate harmful contaminants through the EPA’s State
Revolving Funds programs. These programs, administered by the states, make
grants and loans eligible to communities for drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure investments. Mississippi reports a $4.8 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, Mississippi will expect to receive $429 million over five (5) years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- Airports. Mississippi is home to 11 major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA. Overall, the current five-year plan shows a demand of $350
million in capital improvements and large maintenance projects needed for
Mississippi’s airports.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in Mississippi would receive approximately $99 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Ports and Inland Waterways. Mississippi is home to six (6) major water ports and 870 miles of inland waterways, including the Tennessee Tombigbee
Waterway, Yazoo River, Mississippi River, Pearl River, and the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway. The top two cargo passage lock and dams in the state, the John
C. Stennis and the Whitten Lock and Dam, are located on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway. Over the next 20 years, approximately $4.9 billion will
be the needed investment for Mississippi inland waterways, or nearly $250
million annually. Adequate reinvestment and modernization of the state’s
inland waterways is critical; nearly 2,000 vessels pass through the state’s locks
every year, carrying over 4.3 million tons of domestic and foreign
commodities, including coal, petroleum products, paper, concrete, steel,
grain, and farm products. Mississippi will benefit from $17 billion in new
infrastructure funding over 5 years from the IIJA.
- Grid and Clean Energy Infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
through the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, is focused on
working across the public and private sectors to help the U.S. transition to the
clean energy economy. With more than $75 billion in investments through the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Mississippi will benefit from multiple
opportunities focused on the rapid commercialization, demonstration, and
deployment of clean energy technologies. DOE is playing a critical role in
efforts to rapidly lower energy costs, slash carbon emissions, and create new
industries with the high-quality union jobs that are guaranteed to boost
domestic manufacturing capabilities while strengthening U.S. global
competitiveness.
