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Seattle to put federal stimulus to work
building economy, creating jobs
"With transparency and accountability,
we will do our part to jump start the
local economy, create or save jobs,
and make wise investments for the
people of Seattle." |
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-- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels |
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On February 17, 2009, President Obama enacted into law the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA). Totaling $787 billion in spending and tax cuts, the ARRA represents a historic and unprecedented opportunity for local governments to use federal dollars to stimulate the local economy. The intent of the ARRA is to jumpstart the economy by creating and saving jobs, while at the same time investing in infrastructure, education and clean energy as the foundation for reviving the nation’s economy.
The ARRA mandates extraordinary requirements for accountability, transparency and federal oversight. In most cases, the act requires that monies be spent or committed within 90 days. Federal agencies are quickly creating new rules or suspending existing program requirements to speed spending of these stimulus funds. As a result, cities across the nation, including Seattle, are hard at work pursuing these new opportunities.
Seattle’s Focus
Projects submitted by the City of Seattle for federal assistance will advance Seattle’s most important policy priorities. They will be projects that:
- preserve and/or create jobs;
- provide maximum economic impact to all communities, but particularly to those most economically disadvantaged; and
- to the extent possible, be sustainable beyond the stimulus funding period, including investments in climate protection.
Seattle’s approach
Seattle has taken a disciplined approach to applying for federal stimulus monies. When talk first surfaced in Washington, D.C., regarding a potential federal stimulus package, Mayor Nickels established teams -- organized by broad categories -- to develop, review and recommend application proposals. There are many categories of federal stimulus funding available and to be competitive, the City must prioritize its best opportunities when applying. Application rules and deadlines will vary but one basic requirement has emerged: projects have to be ready to begin as soon as funding is awarded. While federal agencies will allocate stimulus funds multiple ways, there are two primary ways the City can receive this funding:
- By Formula. Certain funds are allocated by a formula – usually set in law – to states and localities. Examples include: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, Community Development Block Grants, and Highway Infrastructure Investment.
- By Competition. Other programs allocate funding through competitive solicitations. In the coming weeks, agencies will distribute requests for proposals and convene panels to evaluate applications.
In addition, the City is also tracking opportunities for funding that may be allocated by agency plan. Many programs in the ARRA allocate funding according to public operating and spending plans. These programs include environmental cleanup of nuclear waste sites and National Parks construction.
View a diagram that lists the stimulus categories Seattle is tracking - Acrobat PDF
Project Categories
Seattle will seek funding for projects that fall within these categories:
Accountability
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act mandates extraordinary requirements for accountability, transparency and federal oversight. As Seattle’s chief executive, Mayor Greg Nickels is personally accountable for Seattle’s proposals and delivery. He will confirm in writing that the City's proposals meet all federal requirements. He will ensure that the City can deliver on everything promised with stimulus dollars. Through this Web site, you will be able to track our progress.
Suggestions to Federal & State Agencies
As federal and state agencies develop their rules for allocating these stimulus funds, Seattle is looking for ways to ensure this funding will be best used to realize the goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. When we identify such opportunities, we share them with the appropriate agencies. Here are links to the suggestions we have made:
- Letter to Secretary Ray LaHood, Federal Department of Transportation, April 8, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
- Letter to Secretary Shaun Donovan, Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Secretary Janet Napolitano, Federal Department of Homeland Security, March 13, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
- Letter to Acting Secretary Otto Wolff, Federal Department of Commerce, March 13, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
- Letter to Director Jay Manning, Washington State Department of Ecology, March 11, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
- Letter to Secretary Steven Chu, Federal Department of Energy, March 5, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
- Letter to Secretary of Health Mary Selecky, Washington State Department of Health, March 5, 2009 - Acrobat PDF
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