Economy

Funds to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

10/20/2009 -- (PHILADELPHIA - October 20, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost the local economy, and protect human health and the environment for the people in the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has awarded more than $38.9 million to improve aging water infrastructure in the District.

This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the District Department of the Environment, and DC Water and Sewer Authority finance water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment.    » read more »

October 26, 2009 -- NEWARK, DE – Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Governor Jack Markell, among others, announced today that the State of Delaware has reached the $1 billion mark for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, a.k.a. ‘stimulus’) funds committed to the State of Delaware. Gov. Markell also announced that nearly 1,000 jobs had been created over the last 8 months thanks to the Recovery Act funding.

“What an exciting announcement,” Sen. Carper said. “When I voted for the bill I hoped it would improve lives, create jobs, and help rebuild our economy. Stimulus funding has done all of those things and made a big difference in Delaware and I am excited about all of the opportunities.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Honolulu will receive $5,347,598 to upgrade its electrical grid as part of an effort to reduce outage times, expand the energy efficient skill sets of employees, and retain jobs Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka announced today.

"We've all experienced the chaos created by power outages, both big and small, and these funds will help modernize Oahu's aging electrical grid," said Senator Inouye. "These improvements should move us closer to a time when we aren't sitting in the dark very long when the grid goes down."

"This Recovery Act funding will allow Hawaiian Electric to invest in modern electrical grid improvements that will reduce power outages on Oahu while preserving jobs," said Senator Akaka.    » read more »

Also Deputy Assistant To The President On Economic Policy Dr. Jared Bernstein; And Director Of The Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes

October 19, 2009 -- James S. Brady Press Briefing Room -- MR. GIBBS: Good after -- or good morning, I should say. Sorry, I'm used to doing this in the afternoon. Before we get started with our regularly scheduled programming, Jared Bernstein and Melody Barnes are here to discuss the report that released this morning on the jobs saved in the recovery plan by teachers. So I'm going to turn it over to Jared and Melody.    » read more »

State Governments Expected to Credit Recovery Act with Creating, Saving At Least 250,000 Education Jobs Nationwide

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced that preliminary indications are that state governments will credit the Recovery Act with creating and saving at least 250,000 education jobs across the country when reports filed on Recovery Act education spending to-date are posted online later this month.

"This is one more indication of how the Recovery Act is helping soften the blow of tough times, by keeping educators on the job and teachers in the classroom," said Vice President Joe Biden.    » read more »

Governor Rendell Announces Application for $5 Million Federal Recovery Act Grant to Train, Place Health Care Workers

Oct. 19, 2009 -- Harrisburg – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today said the commonwealth’s application for a $5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant will help provide training and placement services for approximately 1,430 Pennsylvanians seeking careers in health care.

“To help ensure that Pennsylvanians have access to the high-quality care they deserve, our workforce must have a greater number of highly skilled health care workers,” Governor Rendell said. “Health care is among our most important industries and it is adding jobs – even during this recession.”    » read more »

ARRA Funds Support Plans To Improve Drinking Water Quality in Evanston, Aurora, and McLean, Kendall, and Sangamon Counties

October 19, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott announced grants and loans for environmental projects to improve wastewater quality in Illinois, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Recovery program was authorized earlier this year by the United States Congress and President Barack Obama.    » read more »

Introduces Forty New Hybrid Buses to the Area

October 19, 2009 -- Philadelphia, PA – Today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) took part in announcing the procurement of 40 new hybrid buses by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).    » read more »

$400 Million Benefitting County; 55 Officer Positions Among Jobs Created

October 19, 2009 -- LARGO, MD - Senator Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin, and Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards held a press conference today in Prince George's County to talk about how the federal Recovery Act is working to create jobs and invest in critical priorities.

Preliminary reporting information shows that, to date, county jurisdictions, businesses and federal facilities have been awarded at least $400 million in Recovery funds, which have gone to projects investing in transportation, clean water, education, workforce development, public safety and housing, among others.    » read more »

Hinchey, USDA Rural Development Announce $371,481 for Ten Local Farms to Install Solar Energy Systems,
Make Renewable Energy Upgrades

October 19, 2009 -- Milton, NY -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Jill Harvey today visited Sunshine Orchards in Milton, New York to announce more than $371,481 in federal loans and grants for ten local farms to install solar energy systems and make other renewable upgrades that will enable them to dramatically cut their energy consumption.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $1,128,500 in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) will be coming to Iowa to help communities reduce their energy use, cut back on emissions and create jobs.

Specifically, the City of Council Bluffs will receive $571,500 and the City of West Des Moines will receive 557,000 for projects such as residential and commercial building energy efficiency retrofits.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to additional tribes to help improve infrastructure and water supplies while bringing jobs to Indian country.

Today’s announcements apply to five tribes that will receive a total of $47 million-the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota; the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota; and the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Reclamation previously has awarded $97 million and will award a total of $157 million in recovery funding to tribes for their water systems.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- World production of fossil fuels-oil, coal, and natural gas-increased 2.9 percent in 2008 to reach 27.4 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per day, the highest ever recorded. In the first half of the 2008, producers strained to meet global demand, but by year's end the global recession left the market swamped by excess supply, causing oil prices to fall to from $144 per barrel in July to $34 per barrel in December.

According to the latest Vital Signs Update on fossil fuel production:

* Continuing a decade-long trend, most of the growth in fossil fuel production was in the Asia-Pacific region, where production grew 6.3 percent.    » read more »

10/15/2009 -- (HELENA) - The Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and the Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) have partnered to make the BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) Program available statewide.

The Montana BEAR project provides economic development teams with the tools to help local business owners and operators access resources to improve and/or expand their businesses. The State’s purchasing the rights to the BEAR program has made it far more affordable for Montana communities.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Montana’s economy,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I’m proud to be able to offer this development tool to help our communities prosper.”    » read more »

Oct. 15, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. today announced the release of new reports that outline how funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being used in every county across Colorado. The 64 reports can be found here and are the first of several new sources of data that will be released in the next few weeks to help Coloradans track Recovery Act dollars.    » read more »