Pipeline would support lifelong careers

To the editor:

The multibillion dollar Dakota Access Pipeline project is projected to create up to 4,000 well-paying construction jobs across Iowa. Skilled craftsmen like myself rely on projects like Dakota Access to support our families and strengthen our communities. By no means are these temporary jobs, they are part of lifelong careers dedicated to upgrading and expanding critical infrastructure in our state.

The laborers who would construct the Dakota Access line are highly experienced tradesmen that frequently undergo new training regimens to ensure that the safest, most reliable pipeline is built. In addition to thousands of construction jobs, the project would also be an economic boon for equipment manufacturers. Three Midwestern firms, including two in Iowa, have been contracted to supply upward of $200 million in construction equipment needed to build the pipeline. This unprecedented investment will undoubtedly contribute to further job creation throughout the supply chain. We need to approve the Dakota Access project and put Iowans back to work.

Joseph Purpura

Cedar Rapids