Originally posted on whitehouse.gov/blog November 8, 2011

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

I cannot begin to express what an honor it is to be recognized as a Champion of Change. I am thrilled that our efforts to “Make it in America” are creating an impact, and will hopefully facilitate the return of more jobs to the United States.

Upon discovering all modern streetcars were imported, I… read

Champion of Change event honors ordinary Americans who are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out innovate, out educate, and out build the rest of the world. November 3, 2011.

United Streetcar’s success story begins with a belief in the American worker. When it learned that there was no U.S.-based manufacturer of modern streetcars, United Streetcar’s parent company, Oregon Iron Works, Inc., knew that its workforce could design, build and sell what this country had long ago abandoned.

Not only has our effort led to the first modern streetcar built in America in nearly 60 years, but as of today, United Streetcar is three-for-three against all competitors on the contracts it has pursued. We are now building 13 modern streetcars for the cities of Portland… read

by James Parks, Jun 25, 2011, AFL-CIO NOW Blog

The voice of America’s workers and middle class rang out loud and clear at the 7th Annual American Rights at Work (ARAW) Awards Celebration earlier this week in Washington, D.C.

Kimberly Freeman Brown, American Rights at Work executive director, set the theme of the evening when she said to the 400 participants, ”Our aim is to show the Wisconsin teacher and the Washington machinist that they are not alone.”

Bo McCurry, president of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2143 in Sparta, Tenn., described life on the frontlines in the battle to save… read

Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on April 12, 2011

(Ed. note: This was originally posted on the Department of Transportation blog.)

When you watch our latest video, “Transporting America: United Streetcar,” you’ll see the next generation of transportation. You’ll see transit investments from the Department of Transportation helping people get where they need to go without breaking the bank. And you’ll see a company out-innovating and out-building its foreign competition while creating jobs for American workers.

The streetcars rolling through Portland,Oregon, are helping commuters beat the rising cost of refueling their cars and vans and trucks. And, as… read

In July 2009, U.S. Secretary LaHood unveiled United Streetcar’s prototype vehicle – the first modern streetcar to be manufactured in America by an American company in nearly 60 years. Secretary LaHood returned to United Streetcar in March 2011 to view our latest investments as well as to talk about the importance of innovation and making investments in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Secretary LaHood said, “To win the future and ensure America remains economically competitive in a global economy, we must out-innovate and out-build the rest of the world. That means building a transportation network that moves people and goods more… read

March 22, 2011 – Posted by U.S. Secretary LaHood

I’ve mentioned before in this blog how important President Obama’s bold vision for the future of American transportation system is. Out-innovating and out-building the rest of the world provides a clear path toward winning the future. And it’s exciting for me to see that vision already coming to life in Portland, Oregon.

By adding innovative transit opportunities, Portland has become a model livable community, a city where public transportation brings housing closer to jobs, schools, and essential services. And perhaps nothing symbolizes Portland’s livability better than the… read

By Ilie Mitaru, associate writer, Oregon Business

United Streetcar was spun off of the 67-year-old Oregon Iron Works in 2004, with the goal of supplying American-made street cars to the nation, and abroad.

The impetus for the project came in 2005, when Congress approved a spending bill which included $4 million to Trimet for an American-made street car for the city of Portland. Oregon Iron Works created United Streetcar after winning the contract to manufacture the streetcar.

The company held a press conference Monday afternoon for reaching their American-made aspirations.
Well, almost. “We’re about 70%… read

Transportation secretary among dignitaries visiting Clackamas industrial area Monday

By Raymond Rendleman – The Lake Oswego Review, Mar 24, 2011

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Monday joined union heads, local mayors, Clackamas County commissioners and three Oregon congressmen to congratulate Clackamas-based United Streetcar President Chandra Brown as her firm unveiled a new fabrication bay and test track for streetcars.

Total investment in the project is more than $4 million.

With an additional $2.4 pass-through million grant through TriMet, the manufacturing company will go from making streetcars with 70 percent U.S. content to 90 percent. The company… read

February 24, 2011 – Posted by U.S. Secretary Ray LaHood

Earlier this month, I blogged about Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff’s visit to Tampa for the grand opening of the TECO Streetcar Line extension to Whiting Street. This $5.3 million project links downtown Tampa to residential areas, restaurants, hotels and entertainment.

But the TECO Line is just one part of a wave of streetcar projects sweeping across the nation, and last week the read