American Infrastructure, Inc., a member of several ABC chapters including the Metro Washington, Baltimore Metro and Southeast Pennsylvania chapters, has begun work on the first project funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1). President Barack Obama made the announcement March 3.
American Infrastructure, Inc., a heavy civil contractor, employing over 1,800 employees including 320 in Maryland, received federal stimulus funding administered through the Maryland State Highway Administration to begin resurfacing Maryland State Highway 650, which has not been fully repaired for 17 years. This project will support approximately 60 jobs. In addition to this project, Obama announced that more than 100 other businesses also received funds and that more than 200 construction projects will be launched across the nation during the next few weeks.
Obama signed the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17 – approving $787 billion to kick-start the stagnant economy and create millions of jobs through investments in energy, transportation, education and health care projects with three-quarters of the money expected to reach states, businesses and taxpayers by the end of September 2010.
The bill included $27.5 billion for highway and bridge construction and repair; $8.4 billion for mass transit; $9.3 billion for high-speed railways and Amtrak; $20 billion for "green" jobs to make wind turbines, solar panels and improve energy efficiency in schools and federal buildings; and $12.3 billion in energy efficiency and conservation grants, as well as loan guarantees for renewable energy projects.
To view a video of Obama’s speech, click
here.
To read a transcript of the speech, click
here.