Senator Webb: Recovery Funds Fuel Southwest Virginia's Economy

May 26, 2009 -- Less than three months ago, the U.S. Senate with my support passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to revive our struggling economy by addressing several long-standing needs throughout the country.

During the development of this crucial legislation, I worked with my colleagues to develop a recovery plan that was truly stimulative, with a set of specific guidelines and benchmarks for economic renewal. As a result, Virginia has received more than $2 billion to help maintain government services, invest in infrastructure, improve public facilities, and create or save more than 93,000 jobs in a range of industries. Southwest Virginia has received a healthy percentage of these funds.

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The ARRA also included tax cuts for families and businesses, provisions to help unemployed Americans keep their health care benefits, and additional assistance for Social Security beneficiaries.

Recognizing the importance of Virginia’s waterways, reservoirs, and lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded nearly $34 million in contracts for a range of projects including the Flanagan Dam and Reservoir and waste and water disposal plans in Norton and Wythe County. These investments in water resources will not only create jobs, but they will provide much-needed maintenance to essential water resources and recreational waterways.

Virginia is fortunate to have both a rich history and numerous natural sites that attract tourism and provide extensive recreational activities for people of all ages to enjoy. As part of the ARRA, the National Park Service has invested more than $27 million in thirty-seven projects at key landmarks in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout Virginia. The funds will extend hiking trails, preserve our Civil and Revolutionary War battlefields, provide long-delayed maintenance to national parks, and promote energy efficiency at historic sites. More importantly, the funding will promote ecotourism and create new jobs in this growing field.

During an economic downturn, community services can be strained with tighter budgets. Faced with the possibility of taking police off the street, the Department of Justice directed nearly $40 million in funding to Virginia’s local sheriffs and police departments and state criminal justice programs.

As a healthcare safety net, community health centers have seen an increase in patients who lack health insurance, placing stress on both staff and services. To ease this burden, the ARRA directed $5.7 million to fund 5 new community heath centers to serve an estimated 24,390 patients and create 180 jobs. Twenty-four existing community health centers, including Southwest Virginia Community Health System, received more than $5.2 million in order to save 91 jobs and continue to provide affordable healthcare to inner-city and rural communities.

Just last week, Southwest Virginia received more than $1 million in loans and grants for 29 communities and non-profit organizations to help rural communities provide greater access to health care, support first responder efforts, and finance libraries, schools and day care centers.

The ARRA also dedicated $2.3 million in nutrition assistance funds to provide meals for older Virginians adversely impacted by rising food costs. A number of Southwest Virginia Redevelopment & Housing Authorities also received nearly $4.8 million to address much-needed improvements to public housing units, create jobs and reduce energy costs.

As we move forward together in this economic recovery effort, I am committed to protecting Virginia’s taxpayers and advocating for policies that will create jobs and ensure accountability in government.

Source: Senator Jim Webb