Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., discussed economic growth and opportunities with local leaders during two stops in the Southwest Valley on Tuesday, June 1.

His first stop was the Universal Technical Institute in Avondale, the nation’s largest provider of trained technicians to the transportation industry. He toured the campus for a firsthand look at the institute’s hands-on labs that train more than 1,300 students, according to a release.

He then headed to Goodyear, where he held a roundtable discussion with local leaders at the FLITE Goodyear campus, including Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and Litchfield Park Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf.

Also attending were Western Maricopa Coalition CEO Sintra Hoffman, Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise, El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo, Surprise Mayor Skip Hall and Wickenburg Mayor Rui Pereira, Glendale and Phoenix council members and representatives from other West Valley cities.

During the roundtable, Sen. Kelly spoke about the bipartisan $304 billion surface transportation bill he helped shape and pass out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in late May.

He also spoke about the U.S. Senate’s continued work on infrastructure with the West Valley leaders.