Doubtless you remember the ARRA, affectionately dubbed the Stimulus Act. The nation was sold on the idea of infrastructure playing a significant role in building our way out of the recession. However, only 10% of the money allocated in ARRA went to infrastructure.

Lately, we’ve been hearing about a “jobless recovery.” That description is not entirely correct. The stimulus dollars that were dedicated to infrastructure have put people to work. Construction workers were the early recipients as DOT’s released contracts in May. Design engineers got in on the act a little later as the EPA released the money designated for water projects. Many people forgot that the ARRA funds are slated for spending over a two-year period, so we will still see this money in the construction industry into 2010.

What cannot be forgotten is that the money designated for infrastructure has and will create jobs. Infrastructure is a proven economic development tool. Encourage your elected officials to build. It works everywhere it is tried.

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