UPDATED – At his stop at a South Baltimore factory this afternoon, President Obama announced a plan to boost the economy by reducing the red tape required on large federal projects.

“Sometimes it takes too long to get projects off the ground,” Obama said at Ellicott Dredges, citing permits and planning delays related to infrastructure projects.

“Today, I’m directing agencies across the government to do what it takes to cut timelines for breaking ground on major infrastructure projects in half. And what that means is that construction workers get back on the jobs faster, it means more money going back into local economies, and it means more demand for outstanding dredging equipment that is made right here in Baltimore.”

President Barack Obama will be in Baltimore today on the second leg of his Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Initiative, seeking to push Congress to enact trade reforms and approve more infrastructure spending.

Bathed in secrecy for most of the week, his trip will include an afternoon visit to the Center for Urban Families, a West Baltimore group that emphasizes black male achievement and responsible fatherhood.

Before that, he will tour Ellicott Dredges, a 125-year-old company in Pigtown that manufactures cutter-suction dredges used worldwide for harbor maintenance, beach restoration and environmental clean-ups.

The president is scheduled to speak about job creation and streamlining the government permit process at the factory, 1425 Wicomico Street, starting at 1:20 p.m.

Public access to the event will be strictly limited. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Gov. Martin O’Malley and other politicians will be in attendance.