November 9, 2009
Stimulus helped W.Va. jobs picture, Democrat report says
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The initial phases of the Obama administration's stimulus spending created or saved 2,409 jobs in West Virginia, according to a report released by the Democratic Policy Committee.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, West Virginia received 564 awards that will total $1.04 billion. So far, $239 million has already been sent to the Mountain State, according to the new report.

"West Virginia is on track to benefit from a total of 20,000 Recovery Act jobs," the Democratic Policy Committee predicts.

Some of the projects and jobs created, or saved, by the Recovery Act include:

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired 100 temporary workers to repair and improve levees and dams located on the Ohio River, Summersville Lake and Sutton Lake.
  • West Virginia University's National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium kept 20 employees and hired 17 new workers to continue and expand research on electricity-powered cars and vehicles.
  • The Workforce Summer Youth Program hired 372 young people between ages 14 and 24 in nine counties during the summer months.
  • The West Virginia School Building Authority received $30 million to repair, or make additions, to 38 different schools in 30 counties.
  • Greenbrier Valley Airport received $1 million to improve its facilities.
  • South Charleston received $737,500 to complete repairs on its Central Avenue Overpass Bridge project.
  • Huntington received $558,000 for projects to repair roads in its central business district, near Marshall University.
  • The U.S. Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded a $1.4 billion to help the state develop and increase broadband computer access for West Virginians, especially those in rural areas.
  • The West Virginia Department of Highways will receive $1.8 billion under the Recovery Act to reconstruct and repair roads throughout the state, including roads near Peytona and Racine in Boone County.
  • "Without the Recovery Act, economists believe that the economy and the unemployment rate would be much worse," the Democratic Policy Committee report states.

    Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.

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    Posted By: MU4WVU2 (4:47pm 11-10-2009)
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    Only costs a billion to get kids summer time jobs. I guess that is fair since they will get to pay the interest on it for life.

    Posted By: AaronS (7:41am 11-10-2009)
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    How many jobs would have been created if instead of repaying campaign contributors with porkulus money and giving money to banks and automotive companies, this company instead used the funds wasted to pay off every home in America and freed homeowners of their monthly mortgage payment?

    Posted By: pipedreams57 (12:00am 11-10-2009)
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    Wow!! 1.04 billion wouldn't be a drop in the bucket compared to what was spent to bail out all those banks. Guess who put all those billions in the hands of our politicians to distribute as they see fit? Yep, the working class citizen. Now go try to get a loan or financing for a new car or a home. Good luck !!!...LOL.

    Posted By: Leroy Lipship (9:06pm 11-09-2009)
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    Just more that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for!

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