Stimulus creates more than 6,000 jobs

Due to federal stimulus funds in Connecticut, more than 6,000 jobs have been created and many more have been preserved.

The stimulus was a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed by President Obama on Feb. 17.

The act is meant to modernize the nation's infrastructure, focusing on energy independence, education, health care and taxes.

"It's good to see that the government is taking the initiative to try and reverse the effects of the recession," said Steve Shaw, a 1st-semester physics major. "I'm hoping that the stimulus money will continue to benefit everyone here in Connecticut, and that the goals of the act will be reached."

More than 750,000 state residents have benefitted from the act, including students in grades K-12, educators, teens in need of summer employment, recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits, the unemployed, people working on transportation projects and people who are receiving job training.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell made the announcement about the effects of the federal stimulus funds on Oct. 28.

"Our goal from the start has been to get this stimulus money back into the economy as soon as possible and put people back to work," Rell said in a recently released prepared statement. "We are linking employers and training opportunities. We are getting people without jobs back on their feet, and we will continue to do so."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is expected to save and create a total of more than 40,000 jobs within the state, according to the estimates of the federal government.

"The proof is in the numbers and they tell a positive story for Connecticut in terms of creating and preserving jobs," Rell said. "From paving our roadways and upgrading bridges to retaining teaching jobs and weatherizing homes, we are using stimulus funds to put people to work while addressing pressing state needs."

More information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can be found at www.recovery.ct.gov. The Web site has information including the accountability of stimulus dollars, an explanation of the federal law and detailed information on how the stimulus funding is being used in Connecticut.