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Nearly $45 million has been spent in Douglas County through money provided by the federal stimulus program, according to data released last week by the state of Oregon.
That's 47 percent of the $94.3 million earmarked to come to the county through the state. It does not include another $10.8 million awarded to companies and government agencies through direct payments not channeled through the state.
Over the next three years, Oregon is expected to receive $3.9 billion of the $787 billion that Congress and the Obama administration have targeted in spending. Thus far, $3.1 billion has been allocated to the state, with $1.1 billion spent.
Of the $44.9 million spent so far in Douglas County, most has gone to fund education, health and human services, transportation infrastructure and unemployment benefits. And while 162 jobs have been created, the biggest benefit may be for workers whose jobs were saved because of the cash infusion, Douglas County Commissioner Susan Morgan said.
“I think the job retention piece is more important than the job creation piece,” Morgan said.
Without the money, many schools and other agencies would have been forced to make deeper cuts than they already had to, she said.
The largest chunk of the money spent in Douglas County, $15 million, went to health and human services. Overall, $39.9 million in stimulus money will go toward those services.
Medicaid payments for the elderly, low-income families and individuals will disabilities have totaled $12.4 million. Another $2.6 million went toward food stamps for low-income families and individuals, while $25,817 went toward independent services for elderly blind people.
Highway and freeway road projects accounted for $12 million of the money spent, out of $22.8 million that has been allocated. The I-5 paving project from Booth Ranch Road north of Myrtle Creek to Glendale garnered $3.7 million.
Another $3.5 million was spent on paving on Highway 38 and Highway 138 west of the freeway, while a Highway 101 project between Gardiner and the Lane County line cost $2 million. A separate Highway 101 project between Reedsport and Winchester Bay garnered $602,000.
Nearly $384,000 was spent expanding a bike trail near the Douglas County Fairgrounds that will eventually link Roseburg with Green and Winston. That trail will lead bicyclists and pedestrians to a separate bridge that will be built underneath the southbound Shady Bridge now under construction south of town.
Douglas County school districts have been promised $11.8 million, with $3.3 million spent so far. Awards ranged from $166,000 for the Camas Valley School District for education costs, special education expenses and equipment to $4.7 million for the Days Creek School District.
The Phoenix School in Roseburg received $96,000 to develop a native plant nursery and garden and for trail maintenance and habitat restoration projects. The money will also allow the alternative school to conduct an extensive energy audit and to create an alternative energy lab.
Phoenix students harvested 6,000 pounds of produce that they grew and donated to the United Community Action Network, said Ron Breyne, the school's executive director. Next spring, they plan to develop plant starts that can be given out to families to grow their own food.
Students also removed weeds and planted native grasses along Deer Creek.
“They're learning about these things in the classroom and then going out into the field to apply what they've learned,” Breyne said.
Romtec, a Glide-area manufacturer of pre-engineered buildings and restrooms, has received $2.7 million in government stimulus contracts with the U.S. Army and the Army Corps of Engineers. Those contracts are among those that aren't going through the state.
The Housing Authority of Douglas County was awarded $349,245 for roofing work on its rental residences for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians received a Native American housing block grant of $288,245.
The Umpqua Community Health Center received $500,000 for its new health center, along with an additional $210,000 for increased program services.
Umpqua Community College received a total of $3.3 million for student grants, scholarships for disadvantaged students and work study stipends.
Diamond Road Maintenance Inc. of Sutherlin received $584,000 for hazardous fuels removal in southwestern Oregon forests, while Tiller resident Rex Crume received a $25,000 contract for wildland fire management.
The owners of the Douglas Inn in Roseburg received $250,000 for long-term financing from the Small Business Administration.
Douglas County received a $1.8 million grant to institute an intensive intervention program for children who face becoming chronic offenders. The grant, one of 32 handed out by the Department of Justice, was the second-largest in the nation, said Christina McMahan, the Juvenile Department director.
While the stimulus money has provided a good shot in the arm, Morgan said Oregon and the nation will continue to suffer until the economy improves.
“This certainly beats a sharp stick in the eye, but it doesn't help the underlying economic situation,” she said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
That's 47 percent of the $94.3 million earmarked to come to the county through the state. It does not include another $10.8 million awarded to companies and government agencies through direct payments not channeled through the state.
Over the next three years, Oregon is expected to receive $3.9 billion of the $787 billion that Congress and the Obama administration have targeted in spending. Thus far, $3.1 billion has been allocated to the state, with $1.1 billion spent.
Of the $44.9 million spent so far in Douglas County, most has gone to fund education, health and human services, transportation infrastructure and unemployment benefits. And while 162 jobs have been created, the biggest benefit may be for workers whose jobs were saved because of the cash infusion, Douglas County Commissioner Susan Morgan said.
“I think the job retention piece is more important than the job creation piece,” Morgan said.
Without the money, many schools and other agencies would have been forced to make deeper cuts than they already had to, she said.
The largest chunk of the money spent in Douglas County, $15 million, went to health and human services. Overall, $39.9 million in stimulus money will go toward those services.
Medicaid payments for the elderly, low-income families and individuals will disabilities have totaled $12.4 million. Another $2.6 million went toward food stamps for low-income families and individuals, while $25,817 went toward independent services for elderly blind people.
Highway and freeway road projects accounted for $12 million of the money spent, out of $22.8 million that has been allocated. The I-5 paving project from Booth Ranch Road north of Myrtle Creek to Glendale garnered $3.7 million.
Another $3.5 million was spent on paving on Highway 38 and Highway 138 west of the freeway, while a Highway 101 project between Gardiner and the Lane County line cost $2 million. A separate Highway 101 project between Reedsport and Winchester Bay garnered $602,000.
Nearly $384,000 was spent expanding a bike trail near the Douglas County Fairgrounds that will eventually link Roseburg with Green and Winston. That trail will lead bicyclists and pedestrians to a separate bridge that will be built underneath the southbound Shady Bridge now under construction south of town.
Douglas County school districts have been promised $11.8 million, with $3.3 million spent so far. Awards ranged from $166,000 for the Camas Valley School District for education costs, special education expenses and equipment to $4.7 million for the Days Creek School District.
The Phoenix School in Roseburg received $96,000 to develop a native plant nursery and garden and for trail maintenance and habitat restoration projects. The money will also allow the alternative school to conduct an extensive energy audit and to create an alternative energy lab.
Phoenix students harvested 6,000 pounds of produce that they grew and donated to the United Community Action Network, said Ron Breyne, the school's executive director. Next spring, they plan to develop plant starts that can be given out to families to grow their own food.
Students also removed weeds and planted native grasses along Deer Creek.
“They're learning about these things in the classroom and then going out into the field to apply what they've learned,” Breyne said.
Romtec, a Glide-area manufacturer of pre-engineered buildings and restrooms, has received $2.7 million in government stimulus contracts with the U.S. Army and the Army Corps of Engineers. Those contracts are among those that aren't going through the state.
The Housing Authority of Douglas County was awarded $349,245 for roofing work on its rental residences for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians received a Native American housing block grant of $288,245.
The Umpqua Community Health Center received $500,000 for its new health center, along with an additional $210,000 for increased program services.
Umpqua Community College received a total of $3.3 million for student grants, scholarships for disadvantaged students and work study stipends.
Diamond Road Maintenance Inc. of Sutherlin received $584,000 for hazardous fuels removal in southwestern Oregon forests, while Tiller resident Rex Crume received a $25,000 contract for wildland fire management.
The owners of the Douglas Inn in Roseburg received $250,000 for long-term financing from the Small Business Administration.
Douglas County received a $1.8 million grant to institute an intensive intervention program for children who face becoming chronic offenders. The grant, one of 32 handed out by the Department of Justice, was the second-largest in the nation, said Christina McMahan, the Juvenile Department director.
While the stimulus money has provided a good shot in the arm, Morgan said Oregon and the nation will continue to suffer until the economy improves.
“This certainly beats a sharp stick in the eye, but it doesn't help the underlying economic situation,” she said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
