Attention business leaders: It’s up to us to invest in our local communities

It may be more expensive, but it’s a win for everyone. This month, carpenters will secure the final beams on Portland International Airport (PDX), wrapping up a nine-year, $2 billion effort, the largest public infrastructure project in Oregon’s history. We set out to modernize PDX, strengthen it against a major earthquake, and cut our carbon footprint while welcoming more travelers. As the project wraps up, leaders across the country are grappling with how to ease the burdens families face every day of skyrocketing food, fuel, and housing costs; stagnant wages; and infrastructure that’s long overdue for renewal. I don’t have all the solutions, but leading PDX through this transformation has left me certain about one thing: Elected officials and business leaders across the U.S. have a responsibility to prioritize investing in our local communities. Even when it’s the more labor-intensive path.