Thousands Of Jobs Coming To Appleton

From the Appleton Post Crescent.

Praise God, jobs finally coming to Appleton and Outagamie County from Stimulus Bill.

Well may only Eleven (11).

"Appleton stimulus aid will boost energy conservation projects First part of city's $3.5 million grant coming this week

By Steve Wideman • Post-Crescent staff writer • June 22, 2009

APPLETON — The city should see its first influx of federal economic stimulus money this coming week." Appleton stimulus aid will boost energy conservation projects | Postcrescent.com | Appleton Post-Crescent

City grants administrator Sarah Higgins said $689,800 from a grant fund is expected to be used in energy conservation projects.

"We are looking to upgrade energy systems at the city level that will ultimately lower property taxes," Higgins said.

The grant is part of $3.5 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds headed to Appleton in the coming months and at least $49.8 million in stimulus funds earmarked for Outagamie County, according to information released by the Wisconsin Recovery and Reinvestment office.

Higgins said the $689,8000 in energy funds will be used for projects to cut energy costs, including placing mechanical and electrical devices in city-owned buildings that will shut off lights and power down heating and air conditioning system when no one is using the building.

"We hope the city will lead (energy conservation efforts) by example," Higgins said.

A separate $161,702 Community Development Block Grant will be used to upgrade street lighting and to plant trees in the downtown area.

"The tree planting is in response to the emerald ash borer," Higgins said.

The emerald ash borer is a beetle that has killed an estimated 25 million trees in eight states, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

"We could lose quite a few trees in the downtown to the ash borer," Higgins said.

She said the improved street lighting "will protect people who walk to and from work late at night and result in energy efficiencies."

Just how many, if any, jobs in Appleton will be created with the stimulus money is unclear at this point, Higgins said.

Officially, the city will report the creation or retention of 11 jobs, but the city has no plans to hire anyone.

Higgins said the city is required under federal reporting guidelines to report one job created or retained for every $92,000 received in stimulus money.

Dean Gazza, the city's director of facilities and construction management, said the city intends to contract out for most of the energy conservation work.

"Theoretically, we are creating work, so we must be creating jobs," Gazza said.

In reality, he said, the city will ask for bids from companies to do the contracted work.

A part-time prosecutor will be hired by the Outagamie County district attorney's office to handle cases generated by a federally funded initiative to address rental property crime.

The city will get $134,857 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants program. The funds are the city's share of a joint application and award among Appleton, Grand Chute and Outagamie County. The town will receive $14,098 and the county $14,896.

Appleton Deputy Police Chief Peter Helein said the enforcement effort includes a focus on gang and illegal drug use abatement.

"We are going to be spending the money on technology and equipment related to supporting that endeavor," Helein said.

Valley Transit has applied for $1.48 million in stimulus money to be used for buildings and equipment, but not to hire new employees.

Valley Transit general manager Deborah Wetter previously said $720,000 will be used to buy electronic fare boxes for buses, a new ticket vending for the downtown transit center and $400,000 to replace the roof on the Wittman Avenue bus garage.

The remainder of the money will be used to replace Valley Transit bus stop signs and to purchase three hybrid, 12-passenger buses to use on routes that do not require full-sized buses.

Some of the transportation stimulus money will be used to replace Valley Transit passenger shelters that do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards for accessibility, Wetter said.

Higgins said the city also will receive $1 million in stimulus money for two programs not included in the overall county total.

The city will receive a $560,700 grant for homeless prevention efforts. The funds will be divided among the Salvation Army, Emergency Shelters of the Fox Valley and Legal Action of Wisconsin.

"This grant is to help those most directly affected by the recession," Higgins said.

The money will be allocated to directly help clients of any housing-related agencies in Outagamie and Calumet counties facing a housing crisis, said Emergency Shelter executive director Deb Cronmiller.

"I believe the idea of the federal government is to open a new pool of money to help those folks immediately affected by the recession," Cronmiller said.

She said the stimulus money will help people maintain housing if they are at risk of losing their homes or to rapidly relocate people who recently lost their homes.

Cronmiller said the shelter will hire a temporary, half-time data entry person to handle cases generated by the stimulus funding.

"Once the stimulus money is gone and once we are done expending those funds, so will the half-time person be gone," she said.

Cronmiller said funding should be available Aug. 1. Anyone at risk of losing their home or those already homeless can call Emergency Shelters of the Fox Valley, LEAVEN or the Salvation Army, Cronmiller said.

Higgins said a final $497,000 grant funded with stimulus money will be used in a citywide program to reduce lead contamination threats.

"The money will help to eliminate lead hazards in homes where children under the age of 6 reside," Higgins said.

Thank God a majority of people voted for Democrats and Rino's. Thousands of JOBS from the stimulas bill? Thank You, Kagen, Obey, Kohl, Feingold and President Obama

I guess maybe only 11 1/2 new jobs for now!