Recovery.gov - Track the Money

What is new on Recovery.gov?

The redesigned site has new functions and easier-to-find content, along with an abundance of new data. The new tools allow the public to track the money in several ways, providing an unprecedented level of transparency. New features include:

• Easy-to-follow navigation, including useful links on each page relating to the content being viewed
• Direct access to Recovery spending and projects in a state, county, congressional district or even a specific zip code – right from the home page
• Expanded charts and graphs that display rankings – such as which states
  are the top Recovery recipients
• More map options including information on Recovery spending by federal agencies and states, as well as type and amount of awards
• The ability to locate contracts, grants, and loans that have been awarded in a citizen’s neighborhood, a feature that could help identify job possibilities or business  opportunities
• Resources such as a glossary, links on every page, and tutorials to help viewers  understand and interpret the data and use the tools on this site
• The bar graph on the homepage displays total funds announced, funds available and funds paid out for the U.S. as a whole. You also can get  the same information for each state by rolling your cursor over the map
• Recipient data will be displayed on the recipient data map, with the same type of drill down views available
• The U.S. territories data can be found under the Territories tab

More information is available in the “What’s New and What’s Next" tutorial.

When will recipient data be available on Recovery.gov?

The data you can now view is reported by each federal agency that received and distributed Recovery funds. Between October 1 and October 10, recipients will be entering data into FederalReporting.gov. The agencies and recipients will then have 19 days to review the data and identify any needed corrections to what was reported. But only recipients can make corrections to that data. All changes made to the data will be tracked on the Recovery.gov site, and the finalized data will be available on the site on October 30.

Where does the information come from?

The data on Recovery.gov comes from federal agencies that are distributing Recovery funds in the form of contracts, grants and loans, and from recipients that submit reports on their use of the money. Recovery.gov is not the source of the data. The data is provided directly by recipients and federal agencies.

Recovery.gov uses data from the following resources:

·      FederalReporting.gov: Recipients enter their data directly into this government website, which feeds into Recovery.gov. Recipient data from FederalReporting.gov includes information on the Recovery funds received, the scope and purpose of the project, money spent and jobs created. This data will be reported quarterly.

·      Agency Funding Notifications: Federal agencies report funds that are being made available.

·      Financial and Activity Reports: Federal agencies report funds available and funds paid out weekly.

·      FPDS.gov: The Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) is updated with agency data on contracts bi-weekly, on the 6^th and 21^st of every month.

·      USASpending.gov: Agency data about grants and loans is updated bi-weekly, on the 6^th and 21^st of every month.

Other government data sources, such as information from the Census or the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are being used on the website when appropriate to help the public better interpret the data or provide background that will help put it in context. For example, a state’s unemployment rate may be displayed next to the Recovery projects that were intended to create or save jobs in that state.

What social sites is Recovery.gov using, and what are the links?

Facebook

My Space

Where can the public comment on the changes?

Citizens can visit the Feedback page to submit any comments or observations they have about the new site.

For media inquires or to request an interview, please contact:  

Edward T. Pound
Director of Communications
Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
(202) 254-7930
media@ratb.gov

Cheryl Arvidson
Assistant Director of Communications
Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
(202) 254-7910
media@ratb.gov

How can I download the data?

The Download Center has all of the raw data available for download. Individuals will be able to download the data from Recovery.gov and use it to build their own tools to view and compare Recovery spending activities.

Are there resources available to help people understand the data?

Use the Glossary to familiarize yourself with Recovery-related terms. The Agency Reporting section offers a basic explanation of what sort of information is being made  available from federal agencies. And the FAQs for citizens and recipients are also available to provide answers to the more frequently asked questions and concerns.