Recovery Act Creates Thousands of Jobs, Directly Benefits Mainers
October 22, 2009
Maine’s First Quarterly Reports Are Available for Review
AUGUSTA – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is putting thousands of Mainers to work, improving vital State infrastructure and helping families through the toughest economic period since the Great Depression, Governor John E. Baldacci said today.
At the end of the first reporting period for the Recovery Act, more than 3,400 people have been directly employed in Maine by transportation and water infrastructure projects alone. Hundreds of other jobs have been created or saved by Recovery Act funding for health care, education, housing and other project areas.
“In just its first six months, the Recovery Act has created thousands of jobs, saved many more and paid direct benefits to Maine families that have helped them through the most challenging economy of our time,” Governor Baldacci said. “People are working today because of the Recovery Act and hundreds of thousands more have received tax breaks, received extended unemployment insurance and had their health insurance protected.”
In addition to Recovery Act dollars that flowed through State agencies, more than 5,000 Mainers applied for the first-time homebuyers credit, which was expanded by the law. Maine residents have also received $73.5 million in additional Unemployment Insurance compensation, and about 500,000 Maine families benefited from the “Making Work Pay” tax credit.
“The Recovery Act has made a real difference to Maine families,” Governor Baldacci said.
States were required to make their first reports on Recovery Act spending to the federal government on Oct. 10. States had until midnight on Oct. 21 to review and revise the information. Maine’s reports are available today. They will become available from the federal government on Oct. 30.
Section 1512 of the Act lays out reporting responsibilities for States. Included in the release today is an overview of reporting from Maine and the individual 1512 reports.
“From the beginning, I have placed the highest priority on ensuring that taxpayers can see how their money is being spent,” Governor Baldacci said. “Maine is committed to the highest level of transparency and accountability.”
Ryan Low, Commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and Maine’s Coordinator of Recovery Funds will be available at 1:30 p.m. today at the Department of Administrative and Financial Services on the 3rd Floor of the Cross Office Building in Augusta to answer additional questions.
An overview of the Recovery Act at Work in Maine and the individual 1512 reports are available at www.maine.gov/recovery
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