American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

$30.6 million Recovery Act investment by the Department of Energy highlights the additional potential of hydro power

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $30.6 million in Recovery Act funding for the selection of seven hydropower projects that modernize hydropower infrastructure by increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts at existing facilities. The expanded hydro generation projects have estimated incremental costs of less than 4 cents per kWh on average.    » read more »

Improvements to 100-year-old Facility Also Will Reduce Environmental Hazards

November 4, 2009 -- Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today announced the 100-year-old Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric Project will get up to $1.18 million to replace two old turbines for higher efficiency and output.

The funds, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are part of $30.6 million in funding announced by the U.S. Department of Energy to modernize hydropower infrastructure by increasing efficiency at existing facilities and reducing their environmental impact.    » read more »

RacetotheTop.nc.gov will seek input on educational innovation and reform

11/5/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today launched racetothetop.nc.gov and called upon North Carolinians to participate in the federal “Race to the Top” initiative. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Race to the Top is a federal $4.5 billion competitive grant fund that rewards states for educational innovation and achieving significant improvements in how students perform.

In addition to providing information about North Carolina’s Race to the Top efforts, the new website seeks ideas and suggestions from the public regarding new education innovations and reforms.    » read more »

11/03/09 -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.) announced today the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded more than $10-million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for energy efficiency projects and conservation activities.

“This funding will support investments in state-wide and local-level energy solutions to help strengthen West Virginia’s economy and create jobs at the local level,” said Rahall.    » read more »

Recognizes there is more work to be done to get our economy back on track

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, announced that the Recovery Act is meeting its target of creating or saving one million jobs with just a quarter of the funding spent out and is on track to create and save at least 3.5 million jobs by next fall. In Connecticut, the reporting shows more than 7,000 jobs created or saved directly by funding in the Recovery Act, including more than 6,000 in the first district.    » read more »

02 November 2009 -- Washington -- Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper today announced that $1.4 billion is now available for Pennsylvania under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Pennsylvania will be eligible to apply for another $514,403,320 million later this fall. Today’s funding is being made available per Pennsylvania’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1.    » read more »

03 November 2009 -- Washington -- Today, Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) today voiced her support of an extension of the first-time homebuyer tax credit. The $8,000 tax credit, which was made available as part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is set to expire on November 30.

“The $8,000 tax credit provides a strong incentive for people who are considering purchasing their first home,” Dahlkemper said. “As we continue to work toward economic recovery, providing these types of incentives will not only stimulate the housing market, but also allow first-time home buyers to live the American dream of owning a home. I hope to see this tax credit extended so we can continue to give a boost to the housing market.”    » read more »

11/03/09 -- Washington, DC -- Today Congressman Tim Bishop announced that Suffolk County was the top recipient of federal recovery funding outside of New York City in the latest round of stimulus funding reports by the state. Out of the $18 billion distributed statewide, Suffolk County received $1,110,135. The next highest county, Nassau, received $631 million.    » read more »

Recovery Putting People to Work on Investments with Long-Term Benefit

Nov. 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Federal Highway Administration crossed the $20 billion mark in approved obligations for highway, road and bridge projects this week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. Of the $26.6 billion available for federal highway and bridge projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more than 75 percent has now been obligated.

“Even though winter is right around the corner, highway and bridge projects are still getting underway, creating thousands of jobs and saving thousands more,” said Secretary LaHood. “The Recovery Act is helping repair America’s roads and bridges while putting people back to work.”    » read more »

Recovery Act Funds Will Help Improve Infrastructure in Rural Areas of nine States

WASHINGTON, November 3, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $16.4 million in water and environmental project loans and grants that are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems for rural towns and communities in nine states. Altogether, USDA has announced nearly $1.8 billion for water and environmental project loans and grants, benefiting people throughout the country.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Pennsylvania’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

November 2, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $1.4 billion is now available for Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania will be eligible to apply for another $514,403,320 later this fall.

Today’s funding is being made available per Pennsylvania’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1.    » read more »

Funds also create jobs at the Lab, at small businesses and down the chain.

October 28, 2009 -- As funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act start to flow into Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, much of that funding is flowing out to small businesses.

To date, Berkeley Lab has been awarded more than $220 million in Recovery Act funds, a large part of which will go toward infrastructure projects and buying and upgrading computers and scientific equipment, such as microscopes, lasers and gene sequencers. So far, $38.2 million in Recovery Act subcontracts have been awarded, of which 58 percent went to small businesses. That far exceeds the federal government’s goal for the Recovery Act of giving 23 percent of prime contracts to small firms.    » read more »

Nov. 3, 2009 -- The Rhode Island Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery & Reinvestment (OERR) today issued updated job figures created or retained by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The revised job figures shifted down to 1489.49, as compared to 1,703.45 previously reported. The shift is attributed to a comprehensive verification and validation review by the OERR and the various federal agencies that oversee each program.

The 1512 reporting process is part of the Recovery Act that requires data to be collected and provided to the federal government every three months beginning in October 2009. Data required to be reported includes:

* Money received and spent during specified reporting periods
* Award description    » read more »

Includes 11 funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

11/3/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that 18 contracts totaling $56.6 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including 11 projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts were awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law. A list of the projects is attached.

“These recovery projects continue to help us to put North Carolinians to work and to deliver critical infrastructure improvements that will have a long-lasting economic impact on our state,” said. Gov. Perdue.    » read more »

Almost 20,000 state-created or retained jobs reported in New Jersey through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding

October 30, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the release of the first quarterly report on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received and expended through September 30, 2009. Of the nearly $3.2 billion reportable awarded amount, $2.8 billion has resulted in job creation programs to date.

The nearly $310 million expended to date has resulted in the creation or retention of almost 20,000 jobs for New Jersey residents. These figures do not include jobs indirectly created or induced.    » read more »