Virginia

To: Interested Parties
Fr: White House Communications
Da: April 22, 2009
Re: The Obama-Biden economic plan: creating jobs, strengthening the economy for Virginia 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 Virginia in the first three months of his administration.

IMPACT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ECONOMIC POLICIES ON VIRGINIA

Working Families:

Making Work Pay: The President’s tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $1.5 billion back in the pockets of more than 2.9 million hard-working Virginia families.
$37,891,741 to support child care for working families.

Energy:

$60,719,900 in block grants to foster energy efficiency in building, transportation, and a wide range of other improvements.
$94,134,276 to support the weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment.
$70,001,000 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:

$1,748,488,131 potentially available to Virginia 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:

$5,763,749 to fund 5 new Community Health Centers, which will serve an estimated 24,390 patients and create a projected 180 jobs.
$5,239,758 to expand services at 24 existing Community Health Centers, which will expand service to an additional 37,513 patients and create or save a projected 91 jobs.
$2,285,705 to provide meals to low-income seniors.
$252,659,121 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.
$5,419,971 in vaccines and grants to ensure more underserved Americans receive the vaccines they need.

Transportation:

$694,460,823 in highway funds to help build and repair roads and bridges.
$116,105,505 to repair and build public transportation infrastructure.
$5 million to address airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.

Law Enforcement:

More than $39.8 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 VIRGINIA

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

Hampton Roads Transit Will Receive $14 Million In Stimulus Funds To Help Build A $69.3 Million Campus, Which Will Create An Estimated 200 Jobs. "An infusion of federal economic stimulus money will help Hampton Roads Transit build a $69.3 million campus on 18th Street to replace its aging administration and bus maintenance buildings. The transit agency's South Hampton Roads operations will be consolidated at the 10-acre site, freeing its Monticello Avenue office in an old Cadillac dealership for new development. ‘This is stuff that's been long overdue,’ HRT President and CEO Michael Townes said. The administrative office is outdated, inefficient and overcrowded, Townes said. Plus, light-rail operations are projected to start in Norfolk later next year, placing more demands on the space…Despite many years of planning, the project had been on hold because of a funding shortage. With $14 million in stimulus money for transit, construction can now start in October. ‘Being in the right place at the right time has played in our favor,"’ Townes said. ‘We have a shovel-ready project that will create jobs in Norfolk.’ Cheryl Openshaw, HRT's chief project management officer, estimates 200 temporary construction jobs will be created." [Virginian Pilot, 4/6/09]

Stimulus Funds Would Help Replace Crumbling Operations Buildings That Could Barely Fit Buses. "‘This is stuff that's been long overdue,’ HRT President and CEO Michael Townes said. The administrative office is outdated, inefficient and overcrowded, Townes said. Plus, light-rail operations are projected to start in Norfolk later next year, placing more demands on the space. The main bus operations buildings on 18th Street are more than 100 years old and were built for streetcars. Not only are they decrepit, Townes said, but the only way to maneuver a large bus inside the bays is to fold in the side mirrors and have staff on both sides direct the driver through the narrow opening." [Virginian Pilot, 4/6/09]

Roanoke Times: Stimulus Money Will Help Hire Montgomery County Teachers. "The addition of $3.2 million in federal stimulus money means Montgomery County school administrators won't need to leave all of their 28 vacant teaching positions unfilled next school year… Shannon said the district would not keep ‘urgent’ areas, such as schools that need physics teachers, vacant… In addition to teachers' positions, the federal aid helped to restore teacher training, a literacy coordinator, technology resource teachers, custodians and expected cuts in contract lengths. Supply and equipment budgets also shouldn't be as hit hard as expected. According to the plan, supplies would be cut by 3 percent, instead of 8 percent." [The Roanoke Times, 4/16/09]

Thanks to Stimulus Funds, Arlington Public Schools Will Cut Fewer Jobs and Sustain Effective Programs. "But as for excitement, well there will certainly be some happy Arlington Public School employees that have been saved from the chopping block. After initially predicting an $11.7 million budget gap and the elimination of more than 50 jobs, increased funds from state and federal stimulus programs have left the budget shortfall at just $8.6 million, meaning the equivalent of only 31.1 jobs will have to be eliminated as part of Arlington superintendent Robert Smith latest proposal. ‘What really saved us was … the stimulus program,’ said Arlington County board chair Barbara Favola. ‘It buttressed [the School Board] from having to lay off more people.’" [Arlington Connection, 4/15/09]

Richmond Times Dispatch: Stimulus to provide Virginia $116 million for public transportation Virginia public transit systems will receive $116.1 million from the federal stimulus package, the U.S. Department of Transportation said yesterday. "This funding will go a long way toward advancing transit in Virginia," said Jennifer Pickett with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. "All the regions and localities are looking forward to submitting project applications for federal funding." LINK

Inside NOVA: Health Center to stay afloat The Greater Prince William County Community Health Center can last a while longer with the $1.097 million it will soon receive under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. Prince William Supervisor Frank J. Principi, D-Woodbridge, is the executive director of the health center and said the money would give the organization a "new lease on life." The Prince William Board of County Supervisors withdrew its annual support of $450,000 last July and hired Principi's company, Crisis Partners International, to run the health care center. LINK

University of Virginia Tuition Hike Cut In Half By Recovery Act. "Tuition and fees at the University of Virginia will rise less than anticipated next year for in-state students, thanks to a multimillion-dollar windfall from the federal economic stimulus package. UVa’s Board of Visitors voted unanimously Tuesday to raise in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by $372 — or 4 percent — bringing the annual tuition and fee costs to $9,672. Undergraduate students from outside Virginia will pay $2,072 more in annual tuition and fees, a 7 percent jump over the current academic year. Their total tuition and fees next year will tally $31,672." [Charlottesville Daily Progress, 4/15/09]

Stimulus Funding Will Help Renew Over A Dozen Nelson County Bridges Awaiting Funding. "More than a dozen Nelson County bridges and roads are on a Virginia Department of Transportation project list for $4.5 million in federal stimulus money set aside for replacement and repaving. The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, without which the projects would not be finished, said Kevin of the Virginia Department of Transportation. ‘These have been projects we have wanted to do for quite some time now, but have had no money,’ Wright said. ‘If not for the stimulus money, these would not be considered for quite some time. We normally only get to one a year on average with the money we have, so this is a big boost to our bridge program.’ The projects were chosen from citizen suggestions that were submitted to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s Web site, http://www.stimulus.virginia.gov. Wright said the bridge projects that are proposed, which include two over the Rockfish River along Va. 6, will be refurbished. ‘Most of them are in excellent shape underneath the bridge, we just need to replace what we call the ‘superstructure,’’ Wright said. ‘This means we will take the riding surface and steel beams that support the deck off and replace them and the guardrails.’ ‘This will renew these bridges and should make them adequate for many years to come,’ he said." [Nelson County Times, 4/17/09]

Stimulus Funding To Help Widen Route 3, Relieve Traffic Congestion On Virginia Highways. "Federal stimulus money will pay to widen State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County, revitalizing a project that was stalled by state budget cuts. The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted yesterday to approve the first round of projects using Virginia's $694.5 million share of federal stimulus money for highways. The board approved a $110 million list of paving work, $96 million for Base Realignment and Closure Commission-related road projects, $66 million in bridge improvements, $20.8 million in rail projects and $34.2 million in design-build contracts." [Fredericksburg Free Lance Star, 4/17/9]

Virginia Military Bases Will Receive Nearly $330 Million In Stimulus Funds "For Quality-Of-Life Improvements, Infrastructure Work And Energy-Saving Projects." "Virginia military bases will receive nearly $330 million through the federal stimulus package for quality-of-life improvements, infrastructure work and energy-saving projects, U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner announced yesterday. The stimulus projects range from modernizing military medical facilities to repairing runways to improving the efficiency of steam heating systems… In a prepared statement, Webb said yesterday, ‘This $330 million direct investment in maintenance and modernization of Virginia's military installations will both strengthen our national security and stimulate economic growth at a time when Virginia's communities need it most.’ [Governor] Warner said, ‘These projects will help create jobs in the short term while also promoting longer-range energy savings and improving quality-of-life circumstances for many of Virginia's military families.’" [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3/26/09]

Recovery Act Funds Will Help Save 60 School District Jobs in Newport News. "After reducing programs and people to offset a loss of $15 million in state support, Newport News School District officials plan to restore some of the jobs slated for cuts. District officials will share details at today's 7 p.m. School Board meeting in the district administration building auditorium, 12465 Warwick Blvd. Officials cut 120 jobs to balance next year's spending plan because of declining enrollment and the loss of state funds, but the General Assembly restored $11 million in state support, using money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, know as the stimulus package. The federal funds are supposed to help school districts avoid job cuts and improve student learning. Newport News district spokeswoman Michelle Price said the district plans to restore 60 of the 120 jobs up for elimination. Forty-five people whose jobs were cut have been offered reassignments and the human resources department is working to find positions for the rest." [WTKR-TV, 3/24/09]

Jefferson Lab Will Receive $75 Million in Stimulus Funds, Creating Temporary, Permanent and Construction Jobs. "Jefferson Lab landed $75 million in economic stimulus money that will move up the timetable for a $310 million upgrade project, creating jobs sooner rather than later… ‘The stimulus funding is really considered good news across the globe for our 1,200-member scientific community that's truly international,’ said Allison Lung, deputy project manager for the upgrade. About $10 million will be used to modernize lab facilities. The majority will be poured into $310 million upgrade that will double the energy of the lab's Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility in Newport News. The lab already awarded several contracts for the upgrade, and this will speed things up, Lung said. The project will create about 50 permanent jobs at the lab, call for about 60 civil construction jobs that would last over a three-year period and create about 80 temporary jobs. Monday's funding announcement will create 75 of those jobs between one and three years sooner. ‘It moves forward the time frame for the creation of jobs,’ Lung said. ‘Boy, does it make a difference to create them in 2009 rather than in 2012. It helps the local economy. It helps the project. It helps the lab, for sure.’" [Daily Press, 3/24/09]

Virginia School To Stay Open Thanks to Stimulus Funds. "Campbell County Schools officials said they will not close Gladys Elementary School and likely will not lay off personnel, due in large part to the federal stimulus plan. "The budget you have tonight does not have any closings in it," said Robert Johnson, assistant superintendent for administration. At a school board meeting last month officials discussed a handful of possible cuts to make up for a budget shortfall, one of which was the closure of the 208-student Gladys school. Officials had estimated a savings of about $724,000 by closing the school, but the tight-knit Gladys community turned out in force to voice its opposition… Johnson said the division will receive $3.3 million of federal stimulus money as part of the state stabilization fund." [Lynchberg News & Advance, 3/17/09]

Stimulus Funds to Renovate Dilapidated Public Housing For Nearly 350 Virginia Families. "The Redevelopment and Housing Authority received $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the federal stimulus package to renovate public housing apartments and create jobs. This is in addition to $3 million to $3.5 million the housing authority usually receives annually from HUD for capital improvement projects such as renovations of existing public housing units. ‘We knew we were getting additional funding,’ said Karen Wilds, the authority's executive director. ‘We were a little surprised to get $4.8 million.’ The money is part of $170.7 million that Virginia received from HUD under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed into law last month… [Hampton Daily Press, 3/17/09]

Norfolk City Manager Said Stimulus Funds For Her City Will Create Jobs And Help Companies Pay Overtime To Existing Employees. "The city will receive about $20 million from the federal stimulus package, and that's in addition to tens of millions of dollars the school system and Hampton Roads Transit will receive. The City Council received a breakdown Tuesday of funds the city has confirmed it will get, including $9.2 million to rehabilitate public housing and $6 million to improve roads. City Manager Regina V.K. Williams said the city has applied for added funds, including $16 million to improve sewer systems in some of the city's oldest neighborhoods…" [Virginian-Pilot, 3/12/09]

Stimulus Funding Will Allow Norfolk Public Schools To Keep 185 Employees It Would Have Laid Off. "With the additional money Norfolk Public Schools expects to receive from the federal stimulus package, the division will be able to avoid laying off employees, Superintendent Stephen C. Jones told the School Board on Wednesday. The division expects to receive about $12.1 million from the stimulus package, Jones said, which is enough to avoid eliminating 185 of the 230 jobs his original budget had proposed cutting. [Virginian-Pilot, 3/12/09]

Stimulus Funding Provided Commonwealth With Five New Health Clinics, Out of 126 Nationwide. "Federal stimulus spending has reached the Fredericksburg area, three weeks after Congress passed the legislation. The first shipment of funds arrived last week in the form of a two-year, $1.3-million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The money will be used to create a community health center in a now-vacant building that was once a Safeway store on Broaddus Avenue in Bowling Green. Opening is set for July 1. ‘We'll try to move on this very, very quickly. The pressure is on,’ said Rod Manifold, executive director of Central Virginia Health Services Inc., the nonprofit agency that received the grant. Central Virginia operates 13 community health centers in Virginia, including ones in Fredericksburg and Montross. The Caroline County clinic is one of five in Virginia to be funded by the new stimulus money. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included $155 million for 126 such clinics nationwide." [Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, 3/9/09]

Salem School District Used Stimulus Funds to Close Budget Deficit Without Layoffs. "They started out knowing there would be at least a $1.8-million hole in next year's budget for Salem City Schools. But after careful whittling down of projected expenditures – plus the promise of $1.3 million from the General Assembly with Federal Economic Stimulus money, by Tuesday night that hole was just about filled. And nobody in the school system will lose their jobs." [Our Valley.org, 3/11/09]

Twenty-Four Virginia Community Health Centers Will Receive $5.2 Million To Create Jobs And Provide Care For More Patients. "U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released more than $5.2 million to strengthen services offered at 24 community health centers in Virginia as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will be used by health centers over the next two years to create or save staff positions at a time when clinics have seen increasing number of patients who lack health insurance during this economic downturn. Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for services are set according to income." [WHSV, 3/31/09]

Stimulus Funds Will Help Renovate Historic World War II Airport. "The city airport will receive federal stimulus money to rehabilitate its aging runway, according to an announcement made Friday. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said $2.56 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will go to the Franklin Municipal-John Beverly Rose Airport. "This administration is committed to getting the U.S. economy going again and these grants are a part of making that happen," LaHood said in a press release issued by the White House. "This grant represents a critical investment in our nation’s airport infrastructure that will boost the local economy by providing jobs for the area." [Tidewater News, 3/28/09