Today, I visited a local contracting company that has benefited directly from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to announce that since President Obama signed the Act just 28 days into his Presidency, we've created or saved over 14,000 jobs in Maryland and invested millions in public infrastructure, public education, and Maryland's families.
At P. Flanigan and Sons, Inc. in Baltimore today, I stood with the very workers who otherwise could have faced unemployment to thank President Obama for his decisive action last year and to provide an update on where we are as a State after having spent only 6 percent of the total funds that have been allocated to our State from the Recovery Act.
Of the $413 million in highway construction funding, 84 projects worth $184 million have already started construction, supporting nearly 800 directly funded jobs. And approximately $900 million in Recovery Act money has supported 1,809 teachers in America's number one ranked public school system, allowing full funding of the Thornton Bridge to Excellence Plan.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been a lifeline for Maryland. It's allowed us to save the jobs of police officers and teachers. It's saved us from having to push children and vulnerable adults off of health care coverage. And it's allowed us to protect the investments we've made in our public schools.
We are committed in Maryland to fulfilling President Obama's vision of timely, transparent, accountable information on the use and impact of Recovery dollars, and we invite all Marylanders to follow the data as it's reported on recovery.maryland.gov.
Martin O'Malley
Governor