Show us the money | Tracking Maine's federal stimulus dollars
Federal stimulus money has in recent weeks been promised to what seems like every conceivable corner of the Maine economy. Maine has to date been promised roughly $1.8 billion of the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and as the money begins to filter into coffers in the State House and beyond, we at Mainebiz figured it’d be wise to keep track of where all those dollars are headed. Here’s a short list of some of the most notable chunks of cash, culled from press releases from the governor and our congressional delegation. For a lengthier and updated list, check out www.mainebiz.biz.
Trimming the tax man: Maine’s biggest share of the Recovery Act comes from the less-is-more school of thought. The state expects to receive nearly $646 million in funding to offset a host of stimulus-related tax cuts to individuals, including tweaks to the Alternative Minimum Tax and the earned-income tax.
Hospital help: The second-largest portion of Recovery funds is categorized by the state as “State and Local Fiscal Relief.” It accounts for some $548 million in expected funds, and Maine’s hospitals have already benefitted from some of that allotment. On March 17, the governor signed an order to use $45 million in stimulus money sent to the General Fund to help settle years-old Medicaid-related debt between the state and health care institutions.
Road to recovery: Maine’s expected to receive $177 million in funds for what it categorizes as “Infrastructure and Science,” and a $32 million I-295 project related to that allotment is already moving toward the contract phase. While the science funds have yet to be dispatched from D.C., the governor expects 11,000 people will be put to work thanks to this category’s $143 million in transportation infrastructure funding. Maine can also try for a share of $100 million allotted nationally for green transportation projects, and on March 31 the state was notified that it will receive $60 million to renovate and construct federal buildings.
Art injection: The Maine Arts Commission is set to distribute $293,000 in stimulus funds by the end of this summer. The money will be available to arts institutions through a competitive application process, and will also allow the commission to hire a temporary grant coordinator.
Summer jobs: The Maine Dept. of Labor intends to use an expected $4 million for youth employment services to develop a youth summer employment program with Maine's four work force investment boards, according to the Associated Press. The programs serve people under the age of 25 who are looking for work experience and new skills.
Water boost: Gov. John Baldacci joined other Maine representatives and officials to announce April 10 that Maine has received $19.5 million for drinking water improvements throughout the state. The Recovery Act funds, combined with other funds, will allow Maine to complete more than $40 million in projects in 61 towns and cities and will create 720 to 900 jobs, the governor said in a press release from his office.
Green green: Acadia National Park will get $8.3 million from the Recovery Act for road repairs and park improvement, according to a press release from Sen. Olympia Snowe's office. About $4.9 million will improve roads and parking lots at the Schoodic Eduation and Research Center, and buildings will be removed as part of the area's conversion from a former Navy base to a campus. About $2.2 million will be used to improve the Stankely Brook and Cadillac Mt. roads and the Schoodic loop, and $844,000 will be put toward repairing 93 damaged culverts and headwalls on historic park roads. The remaining $170,00 will be used to replace old signs.
Fish funds: Maine will receive $4.3 million to promote fish and wildlife conservation. About $1.5 million of the money will fund delayed maintenance at the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery in Ellsworth and the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in Orland, according to the Bangor Daily News. The Maine Fishery Resources Office will receive $75,000 for fish passage restoration projects, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells will receive $748,000 for upgrades and a new geothermal heat pump, and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Reserve in Calais will receive $71,000 to replace a water control structure.
Sara Donnelly
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