USDA Highlights Impact of Recovery Act on Pennsylvania

News provided by

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Feb 18, 2010, 03:19 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One year after the passage of the Recovery Act, evidence is clear -- and growing by the day -- that Federal stimulus funds are working to cushion the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and lay a new foundation for economic growth.

In Pennsylvania, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) received funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to protect and maintain water supplies, improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, restore wetlands and floodplains, and reduce flood damages.

Within the last year, much progress has been made. Some projects have been completed, and many others are in progress or beginning. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Tulpehocken Creek and Neshaminy Creek watersheds together received over $11 million. Local partners, including NRCS, are working with farmers in the Tulpehocken watershed to not only improve water quality and restore aquatic habitat, but also to maintain agricultural productivity in that area. The partners are now working with eleven farmers to complete projects ranging from building manure storage facilities and installing stream bank fencing to practicing no-till farming and using cover crops. It is anticipated that they will be able to work with 20 additional landowners as well. Although it usually takes 3-5 years to finish a single contract, four contracts have already been done. These projects will benefit about 36,000 residents.

In the Neshaminy Creek watershed, local and federal government agencies are working together to raise and protect about 80 homes from flooding. Almost ten houses are being raised. Once finished, this project will improve the health and safety of nearly 450 residents by greatly reducing the potential for flood damages.

In the coming months, USDA will be implementing additional programs and projects as spring approaches, and construction projects are expected to begin across the country. In 2010, USDA will continue to invest in projects to help get Americans and the economy back to work:

By bringing broadband internet to an estimated 1.2 million households, 230,000 businesses, and 7,800 anchor institutions like hospitals and schools across rural America, in one of the largest job generating efforts to date. This $3.4 billion investment will give businesses access to global markets and spur rural economic development.
By helping 300 rural businesses grow, innovate and create jobs, providing $900 million on top of $570 million already at work helping 160 businesses across the country.
With the construction and improvement of hundreds of community facilities, such as police and fire stations, and libraries in rural America. We will improve access to health care for 3 million rural residents, and educational services for 2.5 million residents. We will provide nearly $750 million on top of $470 million already announced for more than 850 projects.
By constructing and rebuilding water and waste water systems in more than 200 communities affecting 1 million rural Americans. We will provide nearly $1 billion on top of more than $2 billion already announced for projects in 530 communities.

More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery. Log on to USDA's YouTube channel to view additional ARRA project highlights; videos are available at http://www.youtube.com/usda#g/c/2A468F5AC6EBCED.7.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

SOURCE USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service