Governor Rendell Says Federal Stimulus Continues to Help Stabilize Economy, Put Pennsylvanians to Work

Press Release

State's Federal Reports Filed Early, Available Online with Citizens' Update

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said that more than 4,200 full-time equivalent jobs were funded directly by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Pennsylvania in the fourth quarter of 2009. Investments in the first 10 months translate into more than $1,100 per household in the state.

"We are beginning to see signs the economy is pulling out of the recession," Governor Rendell said. "We have much more work to do and our continued quick, efficient and transparent investment of Recovery Act funds will help stabilize and boost our state's economy.

"In fact, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate -- 8.5 percent in November -- continues to be better than the national average," the Governor said. "Our rate has been at, or below, the national rate for 82 of the past 83 months."

The national unemployment rate continues to hover around 10 percent.

"Our efforts are being recognized at the national level," the Governor noted. "The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranks Pennsylvania 6th among states on transportation and 9th on clean water projects in terms of rapid deployment of Recovery Act funds."

To date, PennDOT has obligated more than 99 percent of the $1.026 billion for roads and bridges. Two hundred thirteen of the 326 Recovery Act-funded projects are underway with 82 complete. More than 5,800 people were working directly on Recovery Act-funded transportation projects in October; 3,800 in November. For the last quarter, that translates to 1,053 full-time equivalent jobs.

"Infrastructure projects are creating and sustaining thousands of direct jobs included in federal reports and many thousands more indirect jobs that provide paychecks to workers, but don't show up in the official tallies," Governor Rendell said. "In addition to providing jobs now, the Recovery Act is helping Pennsylvania create long-term assets that will benefit future generations."

Beyond infrastructure improvements, taxpayers are seeing other benefits from the Recovery Act, including reduced federal income tax withholding, extra unemployment benefits, health care, education, and public safety.

"To date, Pennsylvania has injected more than $5.7 billion into the economy," Governor Rendell said. "This amounts to $1,157 in Recovery Act funds invested per household in the state. And, we continue to go above and beyond federal reporting requirements."

Yesterday was the deadline for Recovery Act fund recipients to file the latest quarterly report to the federal government to show taxpayers how, when, and where their tax dollars are being spent. Two days before the deadline, the commonwealth submitted 348 separate reports for 16 agencies and representing more than 3,500 vendors and recipients.

In addition to reports submitted by the commonwealth, every local government, business, organization and entity that received direct Recovery Act funding in the past three months from the federal government will file reports this week. All of the reports will be available from the federal government later this month, but Pennsylvania made each of its preliminary reports available immediately at www.Recovery.Pa.gov.

"As part of Pennsylvania's ongoing effort to provide a window on how Recovery Act funds are being invested, we posted all 348 federal reports online now for public review," said Ronald J. Naples, Pennsylvania's chief accountability officer and chair of the Stimulus Oversight Commission.

"Again this quarter, Pennsylvania went to the extraordinary step of voluntarily posting online a "Citizens' Update' to provide a user-friendly look at voluminous data on Recovery Act spending in the state," said Naples.

In total, Pennsylvania is on track to receive more than $26 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Of that $26 billion, individual and business federal tax credits and benefits comprise about $11 billion. The $13.5 billion flowing through state government agencies will build highways and bridges, help workers, improve the environment, support communities, develop alternative energy, and house residents. More than $2 billion will be awarded directly from the federal government to entities across the state, including local governments, transit agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations and universities, for a variety of projects and programs.

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