Winston County to receive economic recovery funds

MDOT has received $193.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund repair and construction for buildings, roads, and bridges.

These funds are being distributed through a population-based formula. Based on the formula Louisville will receive $251,416 while Winston County is set to receive Winston $525,000 for work on Ellison Ridge Road.

"These significant funds will allow North Mississippi to implement important, ready-to-go transportation projects that will create and save jobs and give much-needed business to contractors and construction companies," said Congressman Travis Childers. "The Recovery Act's investments in North Mississippi infrastructure are further evidence of the legislation's immediate steps to put people back to work quickly and get our economy moving in a new direction."

Other MDOT investments over the next two years include:

$28 billion to modernize roads and bridges, creating and saving an estimated 150,000 jobs by the end of 2010. States are required to obligate at least half of this funding within 120 days. States have more than 6,100 projects totaling more than $64 billion that could be under contract within 180 days.

$19 million in funds for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. There are currently $16 billion in water projects that could be quickly obligated.

$8.4 billion for investments in transit. States have 787 ready-to-go transit projects totaling about $16 billion.

Louisville also to receive part Recovery Act Public Housing Funds

Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS announced that Mississippi has been awarded funding as part of the 2009 Recovery Act Capital Fund Formula Program. These funds will be used for public housing construction, modernization, and development, helping to create and save jobs immediately and provide important relief for North Mississippi families.

The Housing Authority of the city of Louisville is set to receive $311,125.

"The Public Housing Capital Fund is evidence that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is already having an immediate effect on creating and saving jobs, and turning our economy around," said Congressman Childers. "The millions of dollars allocated to the First District for public housing modernization and development will quickly put local construction companies back to work, and will help upgrade and renovate buildings to improve conditions for hard working families. These are the kinds of ready-to-go brick and mortar projects that will help us rebuild America."

The Capital Fund awards will be used to provide funds to Public Housing Agencies eligible for Capital funding as authorized under Section 9 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, with the exception that funds cannot be used for operations or rental assistance. The funds will be used for capital management activities, including modernization and development of public housing.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided the Capital Fund with a total of $3 billion.

For more information on the Public Housing Capital Fund, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at http://www.hud.gov/recovery/phcfund.cfm.