WASHINGTON, DC - Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin has received federal authority to proceed with plans for investing up to $529 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds on transportation improvement projects across the state, investments that will directly create and save about 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin.
“In Wisconsin and across the nation, we begin building America’s future,” Governor Doyle said. “Wisconsin will move forward with transportation improvements that will generate thousands of family-supporting jobs across the state. In the longer term, these investments mean Wisconsin businesses and workers will be able to more effectively compete in the global economy.”
Last month, Governor Doyle signed into law Wisconsin Act 2 that allocates $300 million in federal economic recovery funds to begin work on 47 state highway and bridge improvement projects across Wisconsin. Governor Doyle said the state should obtain certification in the coming days for these projects from the Federal Highway Administration.
Contracts for the state highway and bridge improvement projects will begin to be let in April with actual work taking place throughout the summer construction season.
The Governor also announced that Wisconsin will receive over $30 million in recovery act funding to protect local police jobs, create hundreds of criminal justice jobs and increase public safety, and reduce justice system costs.
“Public safety is my highest priority and one of the most critical components to economic recovery in Wisconsin,” said Governor Jim Doyle. “These funds will help local communities avoid deep cuts to police service and will protect public safety through investments in rehabilitation, supervision and community re-entry programs.”
Local units of government will directly receive over $11 million through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to save hundreds of jobs for police officers and prosecutors. The grants range from $10,640 to the City of Rhinelander to $5.8 million to the City of Milwaukee. A list of local recipients is available on the Bureau of Justice Assistance website, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryallocations.html.
The state Office of Justice Assistance will invest $18.8 million in a comprehensive package to save or create over 250 jobs throughout the state and fund programs proven to increase public safety and reduce justice system costs.
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