Missouri

To: Interested Parties
Fr: White House Communications
Da: April 22, 2009
Re: The Obama-Biden economic plan: creating jobs, strengthening the economy for Missouri families

Facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, President Obama started his Presidency with decisive action -- proposing and quickly passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Since the bill went into effect, the ARRA has already helped put money back in the pockets of 95 percent of working Americans, created and saved jobs across the country and made key investments in our community to help kickstart the economy. To ensure that the funds are spent efficiently and effectively, President Obama tasked Vice President Biden with overseeing the implementation of ARRA, and projects have already begun to come in under budget across the country. As the President prepares to introduce the details of his budget and further plans to revitalize the economy, here’s a look at how his policies have impacted Missouri in the first three months of his administration.

IMPACT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ECONOMIC POLICIES ON MISSOURI

Working Families:

  • Making Work Pay: The President’s tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $1.1 billion back in the pockets of more than 2.2 million hard-working Missouri families.
  • $38,681,713 to support child care for working families.

Energy:

  • $43,779,300 in block grants to foster energy efficiency in building, transportation, and a wide range of other improvements.
  • $128,148,027 to support the weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment.
  • $57,393,000 to the State Energy Program, available for rebates to consumers for energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills.

Education:

  • $1,383,989,197 potentially available to Missouri to lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save thousands of teaching jobs at risk due to state and local budget cuts.

Health Care:

  • $2,600,000 to fund 2 new Community Health Centers, which will serve an estimated 9,340 patients and create a projected 70 jobs.
  • $6,821,393 to expand services at 20 existing Community Health Centers, which will expand service to an additional 47,261 patients and create or save a projected 111 jobs.
  • $1,917,189 to provide meals to low-income seniors.
  • $270,528,865 made available in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to protect health care for the families hit hard by the economic crisis and some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
  • $3,574,454 in vaccines and grants to ensure more underserved Americans receive the vaccines they need.

Transportation:

  • $637,121,984 in highway funds to help build and repair roads and bridges.
  • $85,133,543 to repair and build public transportation infrastructure.
  • $22 million to address airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.

Law Enforcement:

  • More than $40.3 million for state and local law enforcement assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program supports a variety of efforts such as hiring and support for law enforcement officers; multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces; crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives.

REAL RESULTS IN MISSOURI

Thanks to the Obama Administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, real impact is already being felt across the state.

Vice President and Commerce Secretary to Attend Event in Jefferson City, MO Announcing the State’s Largest Wind Development – Expected to Create 2,500+ Jobs. "Vice President Joe Biden and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke are set to attend an announcement Thursday in Jefferson City detailing plans for Missouri’s largest wind energy development, which is expected to cost about $300 million and create more than 2,500 jobs. The 150-megawatt Lost Creek Wind Farm will be located in DeKalb County and will be developed by St. Louis-based Wind Capital Group. GE Energy will supply 100 wind turbines. Electric component maker ABB will supply 100 electric transformers, which will be made by employees, represented by the United Auto Workers, at its Jefferson City facility. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., a provider of energy to six regional and 51 local electric cooperatives in Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa, plans to buy all the electricity generated at Lost Creek. Groundbreaking is scheduled for August. ‘The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gave Wind Capital Group and our investors the confidence to proceed with what will be the largest wind farm in the state of Missouri,’ Tom Carnahan, president of Wind Capital Group, said in a statement." [St. Louis Business Journal, 4/15/09]

Stimulus Funding For Missouri Infrastructure Projects Will Directly And Indirectly Support Almost 22,000 Jobs. Hollister City Administrator Said, "It Will Be A Huge Boost To The Economy;" Branson’s City Engineer Echoed, "This Is The Best News We’ve Gotten In A Long Time." "Missouri will get about $525 million in federal funds for transportation -- a slice of which will be for road projects in the Ozarks. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aims to create jobs and jump start the economy, Kirk Juranas, Missouri Department of Transportation district engineer for District 8, said Tuesday evening at a public meeting. ‘This is about jobs,’ he said. ‘Jobs, jobs, jobs.’ Stimulus funds invested in Missouri's transportation infrastructure will directly and indirectly support nearly 22,000 jobs statewide, according to MoDOT. Juranas said he did not have an exact number on how many of those jobs might go to people in southwest Missouri…‘This is the best news we've gotten in a long time,’ said David Miller, city engineer for Branson. He said the stimulus money will help Branson pay its share of the cost of a new Lake Taneycomo bridge, which will in turn free up more than $1 million Branson could use on other road projects. Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss expects the bridge project to bring a number of jobs to the city. ‘It will be a huge boost to the economy,’ he said. ‘It's a lot of money pumped into a local economy when we badly need it.’" [ News-Leader (Springfield, MO), 3/11/09]

Missouri Budget Project Director Wrote That Stimulus Money Will Create Jobs, Improve Missouri’s Economy And Possibly Increase Missouri’s Gross State Product By $2.7 Billion Over The Next Two Years And Create 35,000 Jobs In The Health Care Sector. Amy Blouin, the executive director of the Missouri Budget Project, wrote: "Missouri is expected to receive at least $4.3 billion over the next two years as a result of the Federal Economic Recovery Act, which Congress passed in February. One portion of the funding will go directly to support transportation and infrastructure improvements in Missouri and another portion to support our schools. Both of these investments are important for creating jobs and improving Missouri's economy. However, Missouri policymakers have an even more critical opportunity to use a third source of funds coming into our state from the Recovery Act. A significant amount of the federal recovery funding is available for health care programs and to assist families who have been most severely affected by the economic recession. It is an opportunity that Missouri families cannot afford for us to miss. In fact, a recent Missouri Budget Project report estimates that Recovery Act funding for Medicaid and health care alone could increase Missouri's gross state product by $2.7 billion over the next two years and result in an increase of 35,000 jobs in the health care sector. The total recovery package could support as many as 98,000 jobs and increase Missouri's gross state product by $7.6 billion. Missouri's policymakers and legislative leaders must seize this opportunity and use the federal recovery funds to maximize the direct benefit to Missouri's families and our economy…Missouri can seize this opportunity to use federal funds to restore our economy and support families who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis. Policies that assist Missouri families are the most prudent economic stimulus for our state. When Missouri families prosper, then Missouri businesses do as well. Our legislators must act quickly. The future health of Missouri's economy depends on how these federal funds are used now. [Amy Blouin, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/12/09]

An Estimated 1,000 Jobs Will Be Supported By 32 Road Resurfacing Projects In Missouri. "The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved 32 road resurfacing projects throughout the state worth $39 million, including four projects in the Kansas City area worth $12.4 million, financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects include $11.8 million for Interstate 29 in Platte County, $260,000 for U.S. Highway 69 in Clay County, $206,000 for Missouri Highway M in Ray County and $182,000 for Missouri Highway C in Ray County. The Missouri Department of Transportation said in a release Wednesday that the state projects will support an estimated 1,000 jobs. MoDOT said it is analyzing the economic recovery legislation’s provisions to determine how it will spend the rest of the stimulus money not already obligated. Fifty percent of the money must be obligated no later than June 17, and the projects must be completed within three years." [Kansas City Business Journal, 3/4/09]

$200 Million "Green Impact Zone" Will Help Paseo and Armour Boulevard Area With Energy-Efficient Renovations. "Rep. Emanuel Cleaver calls it the Green Impact Zone of Missouri. The zone is a 150-block, mostly black area from 39th to 51st streets, Troost to Prospect avenues and Swope Parkway. It will be ground zero for $200 million in federal stimulus money. Cleaver says it is the largest amount of cash to hit one area of the urban core in our lifetime. It’s bigger than what the community got during President Lyndon Johnson’s anti-poverty Great Society programs. Cleaver expects the projects to begin by summer, giving people such as Kennedy help they need. It is appropriate that the long-neglected area — troubled by crime, segregation and discrimination — will become a Green Impact Zone to help reverse the devastation the community and its residents have endured. This community is hungry for some workable plan to add jobs and give people a better way of life. Cleaver said no other U.S. city was doing what’s planned here. Its success could mean other parts of Cleaver’s district may be next. That could make other congressional districts take note. Green here means every residence is to get an energy audit, and energy efficiency is to be upgraded as needed. Bus service will be improved, the bridge at Troost and Volker replaced and new facilities built near the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Area public schools will be weatherized, solar units may be installed, and public housing rehabilitated." [Kansas City Star, 4/19/09]

Stimulus Grant Will Allow Health Center to Expand, Serving a 10th County. "A $1.3 million payout of federal stimulus cash to the Family Health Center of Boone County will be used to expand access to a clinic in Linn County, 91 miles north of Columbia. As a result of the new funding, Family Health Center Executive Director Gloria Crull said the Boone County center will add a 10th county to its service area, which will include the Marceline Community Health Center. Funding for the expansion comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009… Crull said she has not heard any negative feedback about the funds not being available for Columbia needs. ‘The best way to explain that is it’s less expensive over the long term if you have health centers expand to additional sites rather than starting new health centers,’ she said. ‘It’s a better use of tax dollars.’" [Columbia Tribune, 3/3/09]

Thanks To Recovery Act Grant, Taney County Will Hire Internet Crime Fighter To Catch Child Predators. "According to David Rozell, an investigator with the Taney County Sheriff's Department, ‘we have had issues here within the county with 14 year olds being conned into exposing themselves and, literally, once that picture gets on there you can never get it back.’ ‘We need a lot of help. There is a lot more child pornography and child abuse on the internet,’ Rozell said. Now, help is on the way, through federal stimulus money. The Taney County Sheriff's Department got word Wednesday it's getting a grant from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The $80,000 grant will be used to hire a full-time employee to fight web crime for the next two years. ‘This'll be a full-time position and somebody that's specifically trained just for that type of work,’ said Taney County Sheriff, Jimmie Russell," [KSPR-TV, 4/9/09]

Contracts Worth A Total Of $1.535 Million In Federal Stimulus Funds Were Awarded To Missouri Construction Companies. "Mark Twain National Forest has awarded $2.3 million in federal stimulus funds for contracts to improve forest roads and recreation sites. Several firms in southern Missouri will do work in the forest through the funding. Eight Missouri construction companies were awarded bids March 23, 2009 totaling $1,535,000 to provide gravel to Forest Service roads damaged by extreme weather over the last few years. Contracts have been awarded to aggregate companies or quarries in Shell Knob, Warsaw, Lebanon, Winona and Willow Springs. Two firms in Willow Springs and Van Buren have won contracts to do blading on damaged forest roads. Funding also will result in installation of 25 low-maintenance toilet buildings at Forest Service campgrounds in 11 counties and installation of new picnic tables and fire rings in campgrounds. The federal stimulus money also will be used for signs and recreation site furniture, according to a news release." [News Leader, 4/3/09]

Lee’s Summit awarded Stimulus Funds. Lee’s Summit’s Todd George Road Extension project has been approved for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The project, which was recommended last week for partial funding from the Mid-America Regional Council’s Missouri Surface Transportation Program/ Bridge Priorities Committee, has gotton the final stamp of approval from the MARC Board for the funds. LINK

$200 Million In Stimulus Funds Will Weatherize Homes And Upgrade Bus Services In a 150-Block Area In Kansas City. "Within a couple of years, Kansas City could become a green model for turning around some of its poorest neighborhoods, officials said Thursday. Up to $200 million in federal stimulus money will weatherize every home that needs it in a 150-block area, upgrade bus services and provide much more help, they said. ‘I’m so excited, I'm trying to calm down,’ said U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat who came up with the idea for a Green Impact Zone. ‘This is a perfect storm of opportunity.’ Kansas City is taking the lead in the nation by funneling as much stimulus money as possible over two years into rebuilding one area of the city, Cleaver said. Local, state and federal governments have agreed to work together on the plan. ‘The key is we are investing federal money wisely and building an inclusive green economy strong enough to create jobs for residents,’ said Cleaver, who met with more than 50 neighborhood and community leaders Thursday." [The Kansas City Star, 4/10/09]

 

Stimulus Money Likely To Help Missouri Complete Long-Needed Project To Reduce Congestion On Interstate 270. "For decades, Highway 141 has been referred to as the region's second outer loop - one that would remove traffic from Interstate 270 and reduce the drive time between Chesterfield and West Port Plaza. But there was never money to close a four-mile gap north of Ladue Road. That is, until federal stimulus dollars became available. The two unfinished pieces of the beltway - the Maryland Heights Expressway and Highway 141 north of Ladue Road - stand to be completed using stimulus money as long as the projects remain on schedule. One of the projects still needs approval from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. St. Louis County plans to use $20 million in stimulus cash to extend the Maryland Heights Expressway south to Olive Boulevard, where it would connect with Highway 141 and could eventually become an official extension of the highway. The project also involves adding two lanes to the existing expressway north of Page Avenue to River Valley Drive. The county, Chesterfield and Maryland Heights also will contribute a collective $40 million toward the project. On Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Transportation proposed spending $65 million of its stimulus money on moving Highway 141 north of Ladue Road to the east and widening it to four lanes from two. Together, the projects would give drivers in west St. Louis County an expressway that stretches from Arnold to Hazelwood…Interstate 270 - another major choke point - would be less congested with the completion of the Highway 141 plan, state and county officials predict. ‘It will be an extraordinary relief,’ said Garry Earls, chief operating officer for St. Louis County, predicting that the equivalent of a lane of traffic from I-270 would use Highway 141 instead." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/12/09]