Senator Joni Ernst toured the Weiler facility in Knoxville Saturday afternoon, followed by a meeting with community leaders to discuss the VA campus in Knoxville.
Among the topics discussed was the need for housing in rural communities for companies like Weiler to expand their workforce, and the value of getting current students involved in STEM or other manufacturing fields. Senator Ernst shared the frustration with local community leaders about the VA campus, and said that something must be done.
“We’ve got to wrap our head around this and find creative ways of finding a solution moving forward with the community, that will be really important. The community members are very frustrated, and I’m frustrated there is not an easy solution, but that’s ok because we will find a pathway forward. I just don’t know what that pathway is right now”
Ernst also said that she will be meeting with the GSA personally to possibly find solutions on how to move forward with the VA Campus.