FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE HAS $1 BILLION FOR HAWAII
(By Wendy OSHER © 2009)
U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono joined Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares yesterday in discussing details of a federal stimulus package and its impact for Maui and the state. Hirono said the recovery package will bring more than a billion dollars to the state with $200 million going towards infrastructure. She said that will result in multiplier effect of economic activity for the state. The package also includes $158 million for the Department of Education to stave off job cuts.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said the funds come at a perfect time as county and state municipalities face shortfalls. With money in the package for job training in addition to infrastructure funding, Tavares said the package is not just a stimulus for now, but an investment in the future.
The mayor prepared a wish list for the administration of 80 ready-to-go projects worth an estimated $315 million. Specifics on how much federal money will come to Maui is still unclear, but is expected to be added during council deliberations on the county budget.
(Congresswoman Hirono & Mayor Tavares discuss the economic stimulus package in the audio clip below)
Audio: [audio:http://mauinow.com/files/2009/02/mazie_tavares_audio_16-sample-rate_fullsizefinal.mp3]
- Congresswoman Hirono & Maui Mayor Tavares discuss federal economic stimulus package.
- Congresswoman Mazie Hirono said $200 million would go to Hawaii’s infrastructure projects.
- Mayor Tavares & Congresswoman Hirono speak with Maui residents about the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said the package comes at a perfect time as the nation’s counties and states face shortfalls.
- Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said that with job training included in the package, it is not only a stimulus for now, but an investment in the future.
- Mayor Tavares & Congresswoman Hirono discuss the federal economic stimulus package that was approved by President Obama on Tuesday Feb. 17, 2009.
- Congresswoman Hirono and Mayor Tavares detail logistics of how they plan to use the stimulus funds.