By Mike Guter, President of ASCE - Michigan Section, Grand Rapids, MI

Engineers know the truth of that statement better than anyone and we better than anyone can deliver that message to lawmakers. Take a moment to write to them and let them know that infrastructure funding is critical for Michigan's economy, providing much needed jobs for engineers, constructors, material suppliers, and other supporting industries.

According to ENR, the public works market is projected to significantly decline in 2012. Likely most of us have already anticipated that. Our businesses, many of which have contracted significantly because of the declining private market, are showing low backlog in the public works market as well. This will not change unless we as a group help drive political action.

There's no denying that increasing the revenue side of infrastructure is unpopular when the economy is crumbling. But jobs are the ultimate prize we seek, and high-paying professional, manufacturing and construction jobs command respect from just about all politicians. The bottom line for Michigan is that many infrastructure-related jobs will continue to be lost if infrastructure investment is not stabilized and increased.

Rarely do communities suffer buyer's remorse when they invest in infrastructure. Quite the contrary, communities typically enjoy exceptional economic and quality of life benefits from new infrastructure.

In the world economy, such investments have led to significant growth and quality-of-life improvements. Consider the intercontinental railroad, the great dams in the West, the Panama Canal, Tennessee Valley Authority, the World War II effort, the Mackinac Bridge, the interstate highway system, and the improvements in surface and drinking water quality within our country.

Nils Anderson, the CEO of shipping giant Moller-Maersk, notes in Fortune magazine that port infrastructure for global shipping requires adequate, dependable inland infrastructure. John Bussey of the Wall Street Journal says that the widening of the Panama Canal infrastructure (projected for 2014 completion) will rock the world of logistics, leading to more trading activity on the East Coast. Tom Fowler of the Wall Street Journal relays Exxon Mobil Corp's respected prediction that demand for fuel by large trucks, airplanes, ships and trains will rise by 70 percent from 2010 to 2040, driven by world economic growth and the need to move more global cargo.

Michigan must compete in this global marketplace to succeed, and investment in infrastructure would provide the foundation for a strong competitive position. Our elected officials must understand - and we have to tell them - that the current recession is a temporary condition. Michigan must prepare for long-term economic growth by investing in infrastructure projects now.

Please write a short email to your elected officials telling them how the lack of adequate funding for infrastructure is hurting your job, business, or public agency. Let them know what stable and increased infrastructure investment would mean for you.

Both Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and Democratic President Barack Obama have encouraged adequate infrastructure investment. If enough of us speak up, politicians will have no way of hiding from the reality that infrastructure investment is critical for growing jobs, both now and in the future.