On September 3, the 200th day after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Louisa, Virginia to meet with local officials and community residents. The town has received a $3.3 million loan through the Recovery Act to help the community expand the processing capabilities of their wastewater treatment plant and improve local water quality. The project will create or save 50 jobs.
Like many rural communities across America, Louisa, population 1,500, is in need of investments and assistance to upgrade critical infrastructure. Mayor Jim Artz highlighted how important the USDA loan was for his the town. "Our infrastructure really needs some work, this is an old town," said Artz. "Conventional loans would have placed a tremendous load on our annual budget, because of this is a USDA loan, we are looking at a savings of $60,000 per year. This is big savings for a small town."
A RECOVERY ACT SUCCESS STORY: SAN JOSE, CALIF., PROJECT CREATES JOBS AND PROTECTS THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS FROM FLOODING
ARRA Watershed Project Creates Jobs in Local Economy
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – San Jose, Calif., is using $18 Million in Recovery Act funds to rebuild a flood control structure that will protect homes and businesses from the threat of disaster, as well as stimulate the local economy by adding as many as 700 jobs. Watch this Recovery Act success story video at: www.youtube.com/usda#p/a/u/0/FFE8WGF5YW8 .
Completion of the project had been delayed for many years due to lack of funding but the infusion of ARRA funds allowed rebuilding to go forward. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, is re-designing a concrete canal to mimic a natural water way as a result of Recovery Act funding. Flooding in the Lower Silver Creek area has been a major problem over the past five decades. In response, a partnership of public and private organizations developed a watershed plan to alleviate the threat of flooding. Once completed, 3,800 homes and businesses along the creek will be protected from a 100-year flood event. It is estimated that damages from a large flooding event at this location could have cost as much as $37 million.
Another benefit of this project will be reducing the flood insurance premiums for thousands of homeowners along the creek corridor. This will also free up money that is currently going to pay insurance premiums to help stimulate the local economy.
The final phases of this project offer many benefits, including:
Flood protection of homes and businesses for 16,000 direct beneficiaries;
Flood protection of businesses, highways and infrastructure used by 250,000 people;
Protection and enhancement of 3.4 acres of urban wetland habitat;
Economic stimulus including several hundred construction-related jobs;
Water quality improvements as stream bank erosion diminishes; and
Parks and foot bridges that connect neighborhoods and the creek.
This project is just one of thousands of USDA success stories made possible through the Recovery Act. Altogether, USDA has announced approximately $27.8 billion of the $28 billion in Recovery Act projects, benefitting people throughout the country.
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery . More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.
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