Virginia Stimulus http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Stimulus - Latest News Releases (c) Stimulus 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[5,900 Jobs Created or Retained by Recovery Act Spending ]]> October 30 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine noted that state agencies have reported more than 5,900 jobs created or saved from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds flowing through the State Treasury. To date, more than $5 billion in ARRA contracts, grants and loans have been awarded in Virginia, with more than half in the form of direct aid to localities and organizations outside of state government.

"President Obama's Recovery Act was intended to get the economy moving again and in Virginia we are beginning to see that occur," Governor Kaine said. "These funds have allowed us to begin construction on infrastructure projects that we would not have been able to build, keep our Medicaid plan funded, improve our schools and in some cases build new ones, and expand unemployment benefits to those most affected by the economic crisis."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1130 <![CDATA[ARRA-Funded Route 3 Widening Begins]]> October 28 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine helped break ground on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project to widen more than 10 lane miles of Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. The project will be paid for with more than $25 million in ARRA funds.

"This is a great example of the type of job the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to move forward, and it would not have been possible without the support of the President and Congress," Governor Kaine said. "This project will put people to work, and it will pay benefits to the region and to commuters for years to come."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1128 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces ARRA Funding to Repair Structurally Deficient Bridges Across Virginia]]> October 22 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that 119 bridges across the Commonwealth will be replaced or repaired using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has awarded seven construction contracts to replace 119 structurally deficient bridges across the state that would otherwise have gone unaddressed. The awarded contracts, totaling $50.7 million, are part of the Commonwealth's continued efforts to invest $694.5 million in highway funding from the ARRA. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1121 <![CDATA[NTIA Round One Broadband Opportunities]]> October 20 — On October 13, 2009, Governor Kaine submitted the Commonwealth's comments on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Round One Broadband Opportunities applications affecting Virginia. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1117 <![CDATA[$119 Million in ARRA Bonds to Fund Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Projects in Schools is Announced]]> October 14 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the availability of $119 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) bond authorizations for local school divisions to finance energy efficiency improvements and renovations, as well as renewable energy projects for public school buildings. Projects will be financed through the Qualified School Construction Bond program (QSCB), and will be selected through a competitive evaluation process. Eligible projects can include, but are not limited to, improving heating, cooling and ventilation systems and controls, building improvements such as insulation and windows, more efficient lighting, as well as solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, biomass, or on-site wind power systems.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1114 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces Creation of Health IT Advisory Commission]]> October 13 — Governor Kaine announced the creation of the Health Information Technology Advisory Commission by Executive Order 95. The Commission, which will be chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn Tavenner, is charged with ensuring broad stakeholder engagement and providing guidance to the Governor on the most effective use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds designated for Health Information Technology.

"Health Information Technology has the potential to both reduce costs and improve the quality of health care for all Virginians," Governor Kaine said. "This initiative will ensure that the Commonwealth remains a leader in this area by leveraging the expertise and efforts of our public and private sector partners."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1111 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces $40 Million in Recovery Funds for State Energy Plan ]]> October 6 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the allocation of $40 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to implement the Virginia State Energy Plan (SEP), a blueprint for funding energy-related initiatives throughout Virginia. The funding will help create jobs, encourage energy conservation, and promote alternative energy generation through rebates to residential and commercial consumers, as well as grants to localities and individual projects.

"Today's announcement is another positive step forward in improving the high quality of life that Virginia is known and continually recognized for," Governor Kaine said.

The $40 million in ARRA funding will be allocated to the Virginia Efficiency Rebate Program, the Renewable Energy Rebate Program and for biomass and waste-to-energy projects.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1106 <![CDATA[Virginia Submits Next Round of High Speed Rail Projects]]> October 2 — Governor Kaine announced that Virginia has submitted its second application for funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to develop the I-95 Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

The application for approximately $1.8 billion would fund 19 projects along the Petersburg to Washington, D.C. section of the Corridor and raise passenger rail speed to up to 90 MPH by 2017.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1103 <![CDATA[Energy Efficiency Rebates and Third Annual Energy Sales Tax Holiday Announced ]]> October 1 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced thelaunch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate program, a new program toencourage the purchase of high-efficiency equipment and products. The programwill use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment actto provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifyingequipment and products.

Governor Kaine also highlighted Virginia's third annualsales tax holiday on ENERGY STAR and WaterSense qualified products, which willtake place October 9-12, 2009. During this annual holiday, consumers can savemoney by buying certain qualified products tax-exempt, which will also deliversavings for years to come through lower home utility bills. As with last year'sholiday, high-efficiency products with ENERGY STAR or WaterSense certificationwill be exempt from sales tax.

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    • ]]>     http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1101     <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces $5,065,308 in Community Development Block Grant-Recovery Funds]]> September 24 — The grants, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and administered by the Virginia Department of House and Community Development (DHCD), will support six projects throughout the state and create more than 670 jobs statewide.

    Governor Kaine announced the funding at one of the recipients-the NW Works Sheltered Workshop Building Project in Winchester, Virginia.

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