Reports
News About the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
08/03/2009
USA Today - Stimulus cash lifts states, localities
The stimulus funds helped reverse six months of spending declines, pushing state and local government expenditures up 4.8% in the second quarter, reports the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Federal cash is now the No. 1 revenue source for state and local governments, surpassing sales and property taxes, the government data show.
The flood of federal money lifted total revenues by 7.5%, overcoming an 8% drop in tax collections.
State and local governments added 12,000 workers, a 0.1% increase, in the quarter, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The private sector cut 1.3 million jobs, a 1.2% reduction, during this time. Federal employment was flat.
"The stimulus is working as intended," said [Chad Stone, chief economist at… Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. [Read More]
Augusta Chronicle (Georgia) - Jobs in Recovery
More than 1,600 people are working at Savannah River Site in jobs funded by the federal government's economic recovery act.
When fully ramped up, there will be 3,000 people working at SRS on environmental clean-up and nuclear reactor decommissioning.
SRS reports that nearly 800 of those people were existing employees who would have lost their jobs if not for the $1.6 billion in projects.
But many of the new hires were also saved by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, finding employment after recession-related layoffs. [Read More]
The Miami Herald (Florida) - City welcomes health center
The building, with eight examination rooms, an on-site lab, a conference room and health information management offices, is the third Broward location for the private, nonprofit member of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
The money came from $2 billion allocated for community healthcare centers from the $700 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law Feb. 17…
… the Associated Press reported, that the stimulus money for health centers will expand basic healthcare to more than 2.8 million people nationwide.
Meanwhile, jobs are created to build and operate the facilities. Frazier said more than 40 workers from several construction trades were put to task to get the place opened by deadline.
West Park Mayor Eric Jones said he is elated to see the money at work in his hometown. He was present in April when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, showed up to announce the local funding. [Read More]
Staten Island Advance (New York) - Stimulus funds directed to Staten Island Ferry
Nine million dollars will pay for maintenance programs, sparing possible ill effects of budget cuts down the road and ensuring the continuance 21 jobs which otherwise could have been in jeopardy, according to city Department of Transportation officials.
"This new funding will provide for upgrades to our ferry boats and piers so that all those who live and visit our city can travel safely," said Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn)... [Read More]
Newark Star-Ledger (New Jersey) - School districts scramble for $609M
About a third of New Jersey's nearly 600 school districts have begun laying claim to their share of $609 million federal stimulus money targeted for programs for poor and special-needs students.
The money is intended to help local economies preserve jobs and beef up academic standards, increase teacher training and effectiveness, enhance collection of educational data to track student achievement and improve low-performing schools.
Highland Park, a Middlesex County district of 1,500 students, applied for $15,000 to expand its remedial summer program. The funds meant the district could hire three more teachers to reduce summer class sizes and accept all 10-15 children who typically are on the waiting list. [Read More]
Muskogee Phoenix (Oklahoma) - Stimulus money to help Native American housing efforts
The Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Creek Nation each received $5 million in housing grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The grants are part of a $26.8 million package to improve native housing, spur jobs and boost energy efficiency for nine Oklahoma tribes. Funding will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly called the Stimulus Package. [Read More]
Foster Folly News (Florida) - Wausau Receives $2.3 Million In Recovery Act Funding
Millions of Americans depend on high quality drinking water from their public water systems. But water systems also provide water for fire protection, and are essential for communities to increase economic development opportunities.
The Town of Wausau has received $2,355.000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to make improvements to the community's water system which is currently experiencing a 38 percent loss of water. [Read More]
Other Headlines
- The News Journal (Delaware) - Stimulus projects bring paychecks
- Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio) - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 could help potential homebuyer
- Auburn Journal (California) - Reinvestment act pays students to renovate Chana High garden
- Gaston Gazette (North Carolina) - Gaston's stimulus take tops $50 million
- Business First of Buffalo (New York) - NY provides $74M in energy stimulus funds
- The Daily Record (Maryland) - Baltimore County gets $48.8M in federal stimulus funds