In order to improve the administration processes of the grants program for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice has recommended: (1) the use of contracts in some instances to provide more control over costs, (2) a more effective process to identify and train high-risk grantees, (3) a more effective process for vetting grantees, (4) the enhancement of training programs for grantees, (5) the upgrade of access to grant information, and (6) additional measurements to track grant program performance.

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As part of its ongoing oversight of the Department of Interior's approximately $3 billion in Recovery Act funds, Interior's Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued two advisory memoranda that offered the following observations: the Acquisition and Property Management Office and Solicitor's Office need to have adequate staff given both offices' critical roles for reviewing Recovery-related contracts and financial assistance awards; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs should improve communications between headquarters and the field, regarding road maintenance projects.

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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Defense (DoD) carried out an assessment of the department's Recovery-related agency and program plans and found that they met the 12 required elements set forth by the Office of Management and Budget. Also, the DoD generally incorporated the OIG's observations regarding draft plans.

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Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will allow the National Institutes of Health to create jobs for early career scientists and increase the ranks of researchers and clinicians working in the global health field. With $3 million in funding over the next 18 months, the NIH's Fogarty International Center will be able to support 23 additional participants in its Clinical Research Training Scholars and Fellows Program.

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$2.4 Billion of Early Money to Be Released Today

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $2.7 billion is being made available early to help states as they face increasing budgetary pressures. This funding represents that last third of the government services fund which was initially scheduled to be made available with the completion of Phase II applications as part of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Of this $2.7 billion being distributed early, $2.4 billion will be awarded today to states that have successfully completed Phase I applications and the remaining $316.6 million of the accelerated funds will be awarded in the coming days as the remaining states are approved for Phase I applications.

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Due to the overwhelming demand, the maximum capacity for the webinars has been reached so registration has been closed.

However, registrants may receive two of the following emails: The first will confirm that the participant has access to the webinar. For those not confirmed, a second email will be received, providing details on how to access the recorded webinars once they have been posted to www.whitehouse.gov/Recovery/WebinarTrainingMaterials, which will occur 2 business days after the close of the webinar.

Training in other high growth industries also will be targeted

TOPEKA, Kan. — During a visit to the Shawnee County Community Health Center as a stop on the Obama administration's Rural Tour, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $220 million competition to fund projects that prepare workers for careers in the health care and other high growth industries.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 900 workers from Delphi Steering in Saginaw, Mich., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

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WASHINGTON — During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $335,853 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 125 workers affected by the closure of Atwood Mobile Products in West Union, Iowa.

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WASHINGTON — During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $664,074 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 121 workers affected by layoffs at the RR Donnelley print plant in Spencer, Iowa.

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The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that it is awarding grants totaling more than $55.5 million to four universities to provide cost-shared support for the construction of new scientific research facilities.

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Interactive Features on www.usda.gov/recovery Provide Functionality for the American People to Share Their Recovery Stories, Provide Feedback on USDA Efforts

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today launched a new USDA Recovery Act website, including features and functionality that will allow people to learn about, share, and discuss American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding in states and communities throughout the country. The website, www.usda.gov/recovery, also includes a blog, podcasts, RSS feeds, and other interactive tools so that folks from throughout the country can participate by sharing stories and providing feedback about how USDA stimulus funding are impacting their community.

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $1.2 billion to over 400 communities across the nation to rapidly re-house families who fall into homelessness, or prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. The funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help persons and families facing a sudden financial crisis that could lead to homelessness. To view the list of grantees receiving funding under this round of grants, visit HUD's Recovery Act website.

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Senator Mark L. Pryor Provided Video Remarks and Administration Officials Discussed Funding Aimed At Expanding Broadband Access

LONOKE, Ark. -- Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) met in Lonoke, Ark., and held the sixth of 10 public forums designed to help prospective grantees apply for $4 billion in broadband grants and loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's forum followed Vice President Biden's announcement this month of the availability of $4 billion in Recovery Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

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Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chair Pete Johnson Joined Administration Officials to Discuss Funding Aimed At Expanding Broadband Access

MEMPHIS -- Today, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) met in Memphis, Tenn., and held the fourth of ten public forums designed to help prospective grantees apply for $4 billion in broadband grants and loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's forum followed Vice President Biden's announcement this month of the availability of $4 billion in Recovery Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

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Recovery Act Funding Will Help Rural Communities to Access Technical Expertise

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is providing $14.2 million to help rural communities identify water and wastewater infrastructure needs that can be financed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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Projects Funded Include Libraries, Food Distribution Centers, Equipment for First Responders

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of nearly $63.8 million in essential community facilities projects that are being funded immediately with federal funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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ATLANTA, June 25, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today highlighted the Obama Administration's 'United We Serve' initiative by visiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank, touring the facility and thanking volunteers. Merrigan also noted that the Atlanta Food Bank has received 5 trucks of food as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, totaling more than $200,000. Statewide, Georgia will receive more than $3.2 million of food between May and September 2009 through USDA's Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

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Funding to stimulate the production of thousands of housing units stalled by recession while creating jobs across the country

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that HUD is approving plans submitted by state housing finance agencies for $1,035,322,485 to jump start affordable housing programs in states throughout the country that are currently stalled due to the economic recession. Funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), HUD's new Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) will allow 26 state housing finance agencies to resume funding of affordable rental housing projects across the nation while stimulating employment in the hard-hit construction trades.

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Grants will boost energy efficiency, create jobs in Alaskan Native Villages

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD is awarding the first round of grants to Alaskan native communities to improve housing and stimulate community development. The Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) and Native American Housing Block Grant (NAHBG) funds being awarded today are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). These grants will help native Alaskan tribes improve the quality of their housing stock, develop viable communities, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.

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First rounds of awards made under the Recovery CDBG program will revitalize neighborhoods and create jobs across the country

WASHINGTON - In the Obama Administration's continued effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced nearly 700 grants totaling $360 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To view the list of grantees receiving funding under this round of grants, visit HUD's Recovery Act website.

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WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $57,049,761 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting certain UI provisions.

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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed prior audits and observed that the EPA's Recovery-funding to recipients with known weaknesses or open recommendations could increase the risks of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The OIG advised that the EPA should verify whether or not fund recipients have corrected weaknesses identified in previous reports before awarding new funds.

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Application for Part 1 of Oklahoma's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $317 million is now available for Oklahoma under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Oklahoma will be eligible to apply for another $156 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Oklahoma's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.

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Application for Part 1 of Montana's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $81 million is now available for Montana under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Montana will be eligible to apply for another $40 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Montana's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.

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Application for Part 1 of Louisiana's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $388 million is now available for Louisiana under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Louisiana will be eligible to apply for another $191 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Louisiana's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.

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The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began paying temporary extended unemployment benefits on June 30 authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

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The Recovery Act has provided the General Services Administration (GSA) with significant opportunities to repair and upgrade its historic buildings. However the rigid spending deadline in the Act has meant that the GSA must consider alternatives for identifying and assessing the effects of the repairs and upgrades as required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

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Council Reports Back After Vigorous Public Outreach; Advises New Research Dollars To Focus On Populations Who Have Been Under-Represented And Better, More Coordinated Dissemination Of Information To Patients And Providers
Recommendations for how the HHS Office of the Secretary will spend $400 million in funds for patient-centered research, also known as comparative effectiveness research, were released today by Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER). The report, mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is designed to help the HHS Secretary and lawmakers improve the quality of care for patients, and provide patients and doctors the best information possible to make decisions about health care.
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The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has conducted an audit to determine whether the department's Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting system (DRGR) can collect the required information to effectively monitor the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The audit found that the reporting system is capable of collecting the information HUD needs in order to monitor the program.

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On June 22, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act"). This guidance implements the reporting requirements included in Section 1512 of the Recovery Act for recipients of grants, loans, and other forms of assistance.
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WASHINGTON—In a major step toward developing a state-of-the-art Recovery.gov website, a contract was awarded this week to Smartronix, Inc., a Maryland information technology firm. The company will build the new website for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, an independent agency that manages Recovery.gov and monitors spending under the $787 billion Recovery program.

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NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco at the fishing port in Newport today announced more than $7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to restore habitat projects throughout coastal Oregon.

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In May 2009, the Social Security Administration (SSA) distributed $250 in one-time Economic Recovery payments to an estimated 53 million individuals who receive certain types of federal benefits. To ensure effective management of the payments, SSA's Office of Inspector General reviewed the procedures for identifying eligible beneficiaries. The Office of Inspector General found that some improvements were needed, such as the process for reclaiming payments made to deceased beneficiaries and duplicate or erroneous payments caused by missing Social Security numbers.

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Recovery Act funding will create jobs, help modernize nation's electric grid

Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is soliciting applications for $3.9 billion in grants to support efforts to modernize the electric grid, allowing for greater integration of renewable energy sources while increasing the reliability, efficiency and security of the nation's transmission and distribution system, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $600,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Richland Center, Wis., to provide infrastructure improvements needed to expand the North Industrial Park. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is expected to create additional jobs and encourage private investment in the region.

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced an $843,052 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Muskogee County and the city of Muskogee, Okla., to help make roadway improvements to serve the Harris-Shawnee Corridor Development Project. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is expected to create additional jobs and private investment in the region.

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Washington, DC - As part of an effort to highlight the local impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) investments, Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund Director Donna J. Gambrell will travel to Kyle, South Dakota to announce $8 million in financial assistance awards for Native CDFIs committed to serving economically distressed Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities across the nation.

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $275,161,405 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time employment and those unemployed for family-related reasons to be eligible for benefits.

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Indian Health Service (IHS) today announced $90 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improved access to vital drinking water and wastewater services in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The funds will be invested in 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian Country and to create jobs.

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Indian Health Service (IHS) today announced $90 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improved access to vital drinking water and wastewater services in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The funds will be invested in 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian Country and to create jobs.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the Social Security Administration (SSA) $500 million for the replacement of SSA's National Computer Center (NCC) at Durham, NC. In assessing the Agency's future information system plans, the SSA Inspector General looked at the Agency's strategic plans for information technology (IT) strategic planning, disaster recovery, infrastructure issues, and NCC replacement strategy. The IG found that SSA needs to focus on (1) strengthening the IT strategic planning process; (2) identify ways to accelerate planning, constructing and operating the new data center; (3) develop contingency plans for addressing IT processing requirements and disaster recovery procedures in the event the Durham Support Center and/or the new data center are not operational within the scheduled timeframes; and (4) establish controls and a detailed strategy for timely maintenance, repairs, upgrades and replacement of critical IT infrastructure in the new data center to prevent the current situation at the NCC from recurring.

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The Social Security Administration was allotted $90 million by the Recovery Act to cover the administrative costs of processing the $250 one-time payments to 53 million Social Security recipients. When looking at the process the SSA had in place to identify and report the costs specifically connected to the distribution of the Recovery Act funds, the agency's Inspector General found that the Agency was able to identify and track Recovery administrative costs separately from regular appropriations. The IG also found that the SSA had submitted the required weekly reports detailing the costs in a timely manner.

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WASHINGTON - Small businesses seeking to expand will be able to refinance existing loans used to purchase real estate and other fixed assets as a result of permanent changes to the U.S. Small Business Administration's 504 Certified Development Company loan program. The changes were authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

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Program to Help Create National Broadband Map, Consumers with Service Availability

WASHINGTON - The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced details of a grant program to fund collection of state-level broadband data, as well as state-wide broadband mapping and planning, which will assist NTIA in creating a national broadband map. This initiative will provide consumers with better information on the broadband services available to them and inform efforts to increase broadband availability nationwide.

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Announce Availability of the $4 Billion in Recovery Act Loans and Grants to Increase Broadband Access and Adoption

WATTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA—Commerce Secretary Locke joined Vice President Biden today to announce the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of Recovery Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

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First award made under the Recovery CDBG program will revitalize neighborhoods and create jobs

WASHINGTON - In an effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced $1.8 million in funding to Birmingham, Alabama through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The announcement came at the HUD field office in Birmingham, where the Secretary was joined by Congressman Artur Davis.

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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Agriculture is reviewing the spending of approximately $10.5 billion in Recovery Act funds that the Department received to help low-income individuals purchase homes in rural areas. To date, the OIG has issued four memoranda identifying weaknesses in the processes for submitting, reviewing, and approving guaranteed loan applications, including:

• Inaccurate documentation of borrowers' eligibility
• Waiving requirements regarding borrowers' ratios of total debt to income
• Use of independent mortgage brokers to originate guaranteed loans
• Review and approval of guaranteed loan applications by agency loan specialists without supervisory checks.

1. Weaknesses in the Underwriting System for Guaranteed Single Family Housing Loans
2. Waivers of Debt Ratio Requirements for Guaranteed Single Family Housing Loans
3. Lenders' Use of Brokers for Guaranteed Single Family Housing Loans
4. Weaknesses in the Processing and Approving of Guarantees for Single Family Housing Loans

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region has issued a cooperative agreement award under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The $5.25 million award is for the Red Bluff Fish Passage Improvement Project on the Sacramento River in northern California.

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SAN DIEGO, CA - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the award of a contract to design a new administrative headquarters, visitor contact station (VCS) and service facility for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC) in San Diego, California. Line and Space, LLC of Tucson, Arizona, was awarded the contract to plan and design the $6 million construction project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The value of the design and engineering contract is $820,255.

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