VIRGINIA
www.stimulus.virginia.gov
As of October 13, 2009:
| Agency Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Funds Announced | $5,260,658,416 | 15 |
| Funds Available | $4,238,327,734 | 18 |
| Funds Paid Out | $1,412,671,410 | 22 |
| | | |
| Recipient Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Number of Awards | 245 | 3 |
| Funds Awarded | $366,321,001 | 13 |
| Funds Awarded Per Capita | $47 | 17 |
| Funds Received | $80,008,834 | 7 |
| Jobs Created / Saved | 654 | 13 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7 | 47 |
Notes: All Rankings are from Highest to Lowest. For example, a ranking of 15 for “Funds Announced” means that the state had the 15th highest amount of funds announced. A ranking of 15 for the unemployment rate means that this state has the 15th highest unemployment rate.
Terms defined by http://www.recovery.gov/
Recipient Reported Data: These data are based on data submitted by federal contract recipients to www.federalreporting.gov between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10, 2009. On Oct. 30, 2009, the final recipient federal contract data and the final data on grants and loans will be available. It is collected and updated quarterly.
Agency Reported Data: These data are based on weekly Financial and Activity Reports filed by federal agencies receiving Recovery Act Funds.
Funds Announced: Funds that have been publicly announced as available to entities outside of the federal government. Not all available funds are announced publicly. For example, the funds going to a project started prior to the Recovery Act that are commingled with the project’s Recovery funds will not be announced publicly before being made available to a recipient. The Funds Announced figure should not be viewed as the total funding that an agency has made available.
Funds Available (Obligation): The term used to describe when an agency informs the public of the release of money to recipients either immediately or in the future.
Funds Awarded: This is the amount of contract dollars that will be made available to recipients.
Funds Paid Out: Funds that have been released from a federal agency to a recipient.
Funds Received:The amount of money each recipient received from a federal award.
Recent Updates
June 26, 2009
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced that the first shovel ready stimulus project began this week. In total, Virginia received $694.5 million in stimulus money to be used for transportation projects. The state expects the work to begin on additional shovel ready projects very soon.
Virginia revenue numbers from May were received last week and were worse than originally feared. Last month's numbers resulted in the budget gap widening by another $75 million, bringing the total to approximately $300 million for fiscal year 2009. Gov. Kaine informed residents that the gap will be bridged through a variety of cost cutting measures already in place and by using about $109 million in federal stimulus dollars allocated to Virginia.
May 1, 2009
While the debate between Gov. Kaine and Virginia House Republicans over accepting stimulus dollars earmarked for unemployment continues, it is becoming more clear how Virginia will spend others portions of the stimulus money. Official announcements came this week that public schools will receive $365 million, most of which will offset proposed budget cuts. Another $1.2 billion will be made available for Medicaid and more than $700 million will used to fund a variety of shovel ready transportation projects. The state legislature also used over $1.5 billion in stimulus money to offset budget shortfalls.
April 24, 2009
State Rep. Joseph Morrissey recently argued that the House of Delegates' decision to reject $125 million in stimulus dollars earmarked for unemployment was a terrible mistake. Rep. Morrissey noted that the state’s unemployment rate is approaching 7 percent overall and is well over double digits in many of the hardest hit areas of the state. Morrissey went on to encourage Legislators to reconsider their decision from last week and to instead support Gov. Kaine’s initial decision to accept all stimulus dollars available to the commonwealth.
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced last week that work should begin on federal highway stimulus projects by June. To date transportation officials have agreed to spend $328 million on a variety of highway construction projects. In total, Virginia received $694.5 million in stimulus dollars for highway construction projects.
April 14, 2009
Late last week the Virginia House of Delegates voted to reject a proposed expansion of unemployment benefits and $125 million in federal stimulus dollars that was attached to it. The vote, which occurred almost strictly along party lines, overturned amendments made by Gov. Kaine to accept stimulus dollars. The Virginia Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, had sided with Kaine earlier in the week and agreed to accept the money.
With the vote, Virginia added its name to the list of states that have rejected portions of the stimulus money. Governors in Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alaska and Texas also rejected some stimulus money earmarked for unemployment. In each state the money was rejected because it required permanent changes to existing state unemployment law. With last week’s House of Delegates' vote, Virginia became the first state with a Democratic governor to reject stimulus money. Legislators in Virginia also became the first in the country to override a governor’s decision to accept stimulus money.
April 13, 2009
Legislators in Virginia are considering rejecting $125 million in stimulus dollars for unemployed workers. Despite the fact taht Gov. Kaine has already applied for the money, the state legislature is required to change existing law in order to accept unemployment dollars. While most state lawmakers acknowledge that something needs to be done, many are concerned about instituting permanent change to state law.
The state's Chamber of Commerce and the business lobby both oppose the permanent change. They are concerned that making the change will force Virginia businesses to foot the bill once federal dollars dry up and they are also concerned that the change to damange the reputation of Virginia in the business community. Compounding problems for legislators is the state's growing unemployment rate, which reached 7 percent this week. Legislators are expecting to reach a decision during an upcoming veto session.
March 31, 2009
Yesterday Gov. Kaine proposed a stimulus backed expansion and extension of unemployment benefits, health insurance, and food stamps for out of work citizens of Virginia, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. In order to qualify for $125 million in stimulus funds, Kaine has proposed allowing laid-off workers to an additional 26 weeks of unemployment benefits while they are enrolled in continuing education programs. He also proposed allowing workers laid off from part-time jobs to collect benefits even if they seek part-time work.
March 13, 2009
On Friday Governor Kaine announced an overhaul of stimulus.virginia.org. The original site allowed citizens to submit proposal for stimulus dollars. The updated version will track Virginia’s efforts to implement the recovery plan. Included on the new site will be a variety of tools, including maps, charts, tables, and graphs to allow citizens to how and where stimulus dollars are being spent. Virginia will receive approximately $4.8 billion in direct stimulus finds.
March 12, 2009
Gov. Kaine’s office announced that over 9,000 proposals totaling nearly $4.5 trillion in 20 different categories had been submitted to www.stimulus.virginia.gov. Kaine also announced that the state will use its nearly $1.6 billion in stimulus dollars in three targeted areas: K-12 education, public safety grants, and transportation infrastructure projects. Wayne Turnage, the governor’s chief of ftaff, will lead a working group that will begin evaluating submissions to the state’s stimulus Web site. Once this process begins citizens will be able to monitor the group’s progress on a Web site that is currently under construction.
Launched on February 10, 2009 the state's Web site site allows Virginia residents to submit project proposals for how state stimulus dollars should be spent in Virginia. The first round of proposals will be evaluated starting March 6th. The proposals will initially be reviewed by the appropriate cabinet secretary, the governor’s policy staff, and the Office of Planning and Budget. Following the initial review, recommendations will be made to the governor and the Legislature so that they can work together to allocate funding appropriately and make any necessary policy or program changes.
While details about how stimulus dollars will be spent in Virginia are still being discussed and worked out, Gov. Kaine and the state legislature have already agreed to work together throughout the allocation process. The Virginia state constitution requires that the legislature be involved in the appropriation of all state dollars. The appropriations process is not expected to begin until after the legislation adjourns for the session. Neither Governor Kaine nor House and Senate leaders expect this to cause any problems.
Virginia’s portion of the economic stimulus package is approximately $4.6 billion and includes:
· $1.2 billion for budget shortfalls
· $1.5 billion for Medicaid
· Almost $900 million for transportation and infrastructure.
· $40 million for employment and training