Commerce Sec. Ross talks infrastructure, exports, Census

The 2020 Census is one of Secretary Ross' biggest challenges:“It is a big job to check every address in the nation.”

Infrastructure, business exports and the U.S. Census were all topics covered March 6 by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at NACo’s Legislative Conference.

Ross was sworn in as the 39th secretary of Commerce Feb. 28, 2017. Ross is the former chairman and chief strategy officer of WL Ross & Co. LLC and has over 55 years of investment banking and private equity experience.

He started off his speech by noting unemployment rates of women and minorities are at “all-time lows.”

Ross also discussed trade issues, specifically the Trump administration’s controversial tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel. “You have seen the news that we’re imposing a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum and a 25 percent tariff on steel,” he said. “Imports of these products threaten our national security…we’re confident that any negative effects on our economy will not be substantial.”

Infrastructure is on the top of many county officials’ lists. The Trump administration will spend $200 billion in federal funds to help spur more than $1.5 trillion to build the nation’s infrastructure with partners at the state and local level, Ross said. “President Trump has a real plan to fix our crumbling infrastructure.”

Ross also said that the Trump administration has rolled back 22 regulations for every new regulation implemented, which was applauded by the audience. “There’s more to come,” Ross said.

The U.S. Census is preparing for 2020, one of his biggest challenges as Commerce secretary, Ross said. “It is a big job to check every address in the nation.”

A marketing budget of $500 million is earmarked for an outreach program and plans are afoot to hire 1,000 local partnership specialists, he said, 214 more than in 2010. The specialists will encourage participation in the Census.

Want to help businesses in your county export to other countries? Ross touted the U.S. Commercial Service, which helps small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses export. The service has 106 domestic offices and 76 posts in embassies around the world, he noted. (You can find detailed information on the domestic office closest to you at export.gov.) Fewer than 3 percent ever export anything, Ross said. “Our teams abroad can advocate on behalf of your local companies and help find investor and joint venture partners. If you have not worked with us yet, please reach out and work with our local offices.”

“We want to advocate on behalf of your local communities,” he said.

Ross also gave a plug to his department’s SelectUSA Investment Summit, scheduled for June 20-22 at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md. The annual conference attracts thousands of investors, economic development teams, media and corporate leaders from all over the world, he said.