Stimulus could benefit Sumter

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Recovery Act (pdf)

By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON
Item Staff Writer
arobertson@theitem.com

Everyone's buzzing about the federal "stimulus package." What some may not realize, however, is that The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into legislation by President Obama on Feb. 17, won't just benefit state government. Local government and agencies are eligible for a tremendous amount of funding.

The race to get that funding could make the California Gold Rush look tame, however.

City officials describe the package as "unprecedented" and say that while they are grateful for the opportunity, it's a huge challenge to find out exactly what funding is available and how to apply, as well as to meet strict deadlines set by state agencies. In one case, for example, the city of Sumter learned that it could apply for a certain grant on a Friday afternoon. The deadline was the following Monday.

As a result, city officials have had to come up with "shovel-ready" projects that can be launched (and sometimes completed) within a very short time frame — often 120 days.

"We've been working hard on this for three months — ever since we heard about it from the U.S. Conference of Mayors," said Mayor Joe McElveen. "Everything we've (requested) is, we believe, for legitimate projects that will put people to work."

The act has allocated set amounts to state governments, who will distribute the monies to various state agencies. Sumter stands to benefit from the trickle-down effect of those funds. For example, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission has received $200 million in federal stimulus funds, and some of those will come to Sumter. At present, several local roads have been approved for repaving.

But a bevy of local organizations — from governments, schools and hospitals to contractors and nonprofits — can also apply directly for federal funding for their pet projects, providing they meet the requirements and the deadlines. The city of Sumter, for example, has requested monies for a long list of projects. So have the local Housing Authority, Sumter School Districts 2 and 17 and the Regional Transit Authority.

So far, Sumter has received good news for only a few. They include a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $101,433 and the widening of Alice Drive from Wise Drive to US 521, although the Alice Drive project is still tentative.

"We're hopeful that as the process unfolds, we will be recipients of some of this Recovery Act money for projects that will be meaningful to the community," said Deron McCormick, city manager, citing other projects that ranged from broadband accessibility in underserved areas to sanitary sewers for the Greenwood subdivision, a joint project with the county.

Until then, it seems, the dream of riches will keep local organizations and agencies busy.

"It's a bad thing that we have to have a stimulus package," said McElveen. "But since we do have it, we are trying to make sure Sumter's case is well presented."



Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at arobertson@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.



The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

According to www.recovery.gov, the new stimulus act will:

  Create or save more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years

  Take a big step toward computerizing Americans' health records, reducing medical errors and saving billions in healthcare costs

  Revive the renewable energy industry and provide the capital over the next three years to eventually double domestic renewable energy capacity

  Undertake the largest weatherization program in history by modernizing 75 percent of federal building space and more than one million homes

  Increase college affordability for seven million students by funding the shortfall in Pell Grants, increasing the maximum award level by $500, and providing a new higher education tax cut to nearly four million students

  As part of the $150 billion investment in new infrastructure, enact the largest increase in funding of our nation's roads, bridges, and mass transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s

  Provide an $800 Making Work Pay tax credit for 129 million working households, and cut taxes for the families of millions of children through an expansion of the Child Tax Credit

  Require unprecedented levels of transparency, oversight, and accountability.