F E B R UA R Y 2 0 10

A N N UA L R E P O R T T O

T H E P R E S I D E N T

O N P R O G R E S S I M P L E M E N T I N G T H E 

A M E R I C A N R E C OV E R Y

A N D R E I N V E S T M E N T AC T O F 2 0 0 9
i

Dear Mr. President,

A year ago on February 17, 2009, Congress passed, and you signed, H.R. 1, the American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act. In the three months prior to the Act, the nation lost 2.2 million jobs. Financial 

institutions were on the brink of collapse, and the “Great Recession” was being recognized for what it was 

– the most calamitous economic downturn since the Great Depression. You asked me to lead the 

implementation of the Act, with a focus on getting its efforts underway quickly, watching the taxpayers’ 

funds carefully, and putting America back to work. Attached is a report on the first year of 

our implementation efforts.

One year after the passage of the Act, we can report that approximately 2 million jobs have been created 

or saved thanks to the Act’s impact on hiring in the private sector, by local and state governments and by 

non-profits. This estimate comes from the Congressional Budget Office and is corroborated by the 

analysis of the Council of Economic Advisers. In January, we received more than 160,000 reports on 

progress from recipients of funds under the Act. These reports provided a transparent look at what was 

going on in projects and activities that accounted for a sample representing about 20 percent of overall 

spending under the Act.

To date, I have spoken to governors of all 50 states and local officials from over 130 jurisdictions. These 

state and local officials – both Democrats and Republicans -- have widely acknowledged the critical role 

that the Recovery Act has played in preventing teacher layoffs and avoiding tax increases.

By design, the Act had three primary purposes: Rescue, Recovery and Reinvestment. The enclosed 

report reviews our progress in each of these three areas. Almost 20 million Americans have gotten 

extended unemployment benefits thanks to the Act, and over 95 percent of working families have had 

their taxes cut. Jobs have been created thanks to tens of thousands of projects now underway 

nationwide. And the groundwork for the economy of the next century is being put in place as we invest in 

high speed rail, health technology, broadband, a smarter electrical grid, clean cars and batteries, and 

renewable energy.

Our work is far from finished. Many projects are just now getting underway, and will be creating jobs 

throughout 2010 and beyond. Today, we are announcing an additional $1.5 billion of innovative surface 

transportation projects that will support jobs and economic growth from coast to coast. Work on many 

Recovery Act projects will accelerate in the spring and summer months as weather conditions permit work 

on roads, bridges, water projects, and Superfund site clean ups.

Predictions at the outset of the Recovery Act warned of the potential for wide spread fraud. To combat 

this, Congress and the Administration put in place mechanisms to deter this fraud, including enhanced 

project reviews by agencies and the Office of Management and Budget, oversight of all spending and 

contracts by a team of 12 Inspectors General who make up the Recovery Accountability and 

Transparency Board, and focused work by the Justice Department’s Anti-Fraud Task Force on ‘Recovery 

Act activities. While any waste or fraud is unacceptable, the record to date compares very favorably with 

both public and private sector experience.

At the same time, we have been diligent in getting the funding into the hands of those who are creating 

jobs. Through the end of January, we have given tax cuts and obligated funds totaling $453 billion. We 

are on target to meet the Administration’s commitment that 70 percent of the funds will have been 

outlayed and delivered in tax benefits by September 30, 2010 – indeed we are ahead of schedule in 

meeting that goal.
ii

The work that you set us out to do a year ago is going well. Projects underway thus far range from 

clean energy programs to highway improvement projects, from new health care facilities to investments in 

the nation’s “smart grid.” These successes have been the product of work by the 28 agencies who 

received Recovery Act funds. I meet with the heads of the major cabinet agencies regularly and can 

report that they have been engaged and responsive. The excellent work of the various White House staff 

is the glue holding together the network of federal agencies, and is essential to our progress. 

I want to thank you for the confidence you showed in giving me this important task and I believe that we 

have served the American people well.

Cordially,
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: The Year in Review...............................................................................1

Chapter 2: A State Perspective on Recovery............................................................19

Chapter 3: Selected Accomplishments....................................................................23
1

Chapter 1: The Year in Review

Economic Review of the Recovery Act

What We Were Facing

Enacted on February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA” or “the Recovery 

Act”) was designed to combat the largest downturn in the economy since the Great Depression and to 

help put Americans back to work. One year later, we can definitively say that ARRA is meeting its goals 

and providing a measureable benefit to the economy. When ARRA was passed, the economy was in 

freefall. Job numbers were plummeting and unemployment rolls were expanding. More and more 

Americans were losing their jobs and the country was in need of a jumpstart. ARRA has provided just 

that.

The Recovery Act Has Had an Effect

As ARRA funds have begun to work their way through the economy, several key indicators show that 

they have clearly halted an economic freefall. In their recently released quarterly report, the Council of

Economic Advisers (CEA) found that GDP had been positively impacted by ARRA:

“ARRA added between 2 to 3 percentage points to real GDP growth in the second quarter of 

2009; between 3 and 4 percentage points in the third quarter, and between 1.5 and 3 percentage 

points in the fourth quarter. This is broadly similar to those of a wide range of other analysts.”1

Figure 1 shows the progression of GDP over the past five quarters. 

 

1 CEA: “The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Second Quarterly Report” 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/100113-economic-impact-arra-second-quarterly-report.pdf

-5.4%

-6.4%

-0.7%

2.2%

5.7%

-8%

-6%

-4%

-2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

2008 Q4 2009 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4

Real Quarterly GDP Growth (Seasonally Adjusted at an Annual Rate)

Real Growth in Gross Domestic Product, 2008 Q4 to Present
2

Figure 1 GDP Progression over the Past Five Quarters

GDP is not the only indicator that shows a boost from ARRA funds. Payroll job losses are also lessening 

and, ever since a peak in March of 2009, unemployment insurance claims have been generally declining. 

Both these trends can be seen in Figures 2 and 3:

Figure 2 Payroll Job Losses December 2008 – Present2

Figure 3 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims, 2007 - Present3

 

2 Source: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

-673

-779

-726 -753

-582

-347

-504

-344

-211 -225 -224

64

-150

-20

-900

-800

-700

-600

-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09 Jun-09 Jul-09 Aug-09 Sep-09 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10

Monthly chnage in payroll employment (thousands)

Payroll Job Losses, Dec. 2008 to Present

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10

Initial unemployment claims (4-wk MA, ths)

Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims, 2007 - Present

Peak in Initial Claims:

March 28, 2009

674,000 claims

Rule of Thumb:

Net job creation kicks in when

initial claims fall below 400,000

Claims have fallen three

quarters of the way to

that level from their peak
3

It is no accident that we have seen the labor market improve dramatically since the passage of ARRA –

abundant evidence and many different experts say it is creating millions of jobs.

The Recovery Act Has Created Jobs

At the end of September 2009, CEA released their first quarterly report, finding that ARRA had created or 

saved over 1 million jobs. In their second quarterly report, CEA found that this positive trend continues, 

with ARRA having created or saved 1.5 to 2 million jobs in the fourth quarter of 2009, as shown in Figure 

4. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in their latest report on the status of ARRA implementation, 

also found that ARRA funding has supported a comparable number of jobs – with their estimate being up

to 2.4 million jobs supported.

Figure 4 Recovery Act Jobs Created or Saved by Quarter, per CEA4

These jobs not only span sectors, but also span the entire country as is seen in Figure 5.

 

3 Source: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

4 CEA: “The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Second Quarterly Report” 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/100113-economic-impact-arra-second-quarterly-report.pdf

338,000

1,100,000

2,000,000

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

Q2 Q3 Q4

Jobs
4

Figure 5 Cumulative ARRA Jobs Created or Saved by State per CEA5

Implementation Review of the Recovery Act

Total Obligations and Outlays 

A primary goal of the Act was to get money into the economy in a rapid and responsible manner. 

Spending was intended to move out quickly but its primary impact was designed to be felt over a roughly 

a two year period. As of the end of January, the Recovery Act has obligated a total of $334 billion in 

spending, outlayed $179 billion of that amount, and provided an estimated $119 billion in tax relief for 

families across the country. Thus, $453 billion, or 57 percent of the $787 billion total, as estimated at 

enactment, has been put to work in the economy, providing immediate rescue for those suffering the 

most, rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, building industries of the future, and providing much needed 

tax relief including cuts for 95 percent of working families. 

 

5 CEA: “The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Second Quarterly Report” 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/100113-economic-impact-arra-second-quarterly-report.pdf
5

Figure 6 Cumulative Spending and Tax Relief over Time6

The Structure of the Recovery Act

Notwithstanding this progress, the nature of the Recovery Act remains misunderstood by many, and 

misconstrued by others: critics have suggested that the entire $787 billion is being spent on earmarked 

programs. Instead, the Recovery Act is divided into three roughly equal parts: tax relief, direct aid to 

states and individuals (or “payments”), and projects that not only help rebuild today’s infrastructure, but 

also invest in the industries of tomorrow. And it has no earmarks.

 

6 Financial and Weekly Reports from agencies; Office of Tax Analysis tax estimates

-

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

300 

350 

400 

450 

500 

Dollars in Billions

Cumulative Spending and Tax Relief Over Time

Outlayed Obligated Tax Relief
6

Figure 7 Three Major Categories of Spend and Where They Are as of the End of January, 20107

Spending at Different Paces

The Recovery Act is a balanced package that anticipated a multi-year recovery. By design, it includes 

some investments that spent out immediately, and others that kick in later so that the stimulating affects 

of the Act support a more sustained recovery. The single largest part of the Recovery Act — more than 

one-third of it — is tax cuts: 95 percent of working Americans have seen their taxes go down as a result 

of the Act, the broadest tax cut in history. This was designed to provide gradual and sustained tax relief to 

families over a period of time. And it kicked in right away.

The second largest part of the Act — just under a third — is direct relief to state governments and 

individuals. The money is allowing state governments to pay teachers (hundreds of thousands across the 

country according to reports filed from state governments), firefighters and police officers and is also 

preventing states’ budget gaps from growing wider. And those hardest hit by the recession are getting 

extended unemployment insurance, health coverage, and other help to get through these tough times. 

This money goes to state governments and families in need, without red tape or delays, and was 

designed to be the quickest acting mechanism to save our economy from the brink of a second Great 

Depression. For this reason, over 80 percent of the outlays in the spending categories of the Recovery 

Act in 2009 came in the form of payments that did exactly this. And without these payments, those 

hurting the most in our country would have found themselves in even greater need, and our economy 

would have suffered much greater damage.

 

7 Financial and Activity Weekly reports as of 1/29/10, Office of Tax Analysis tax estimates

$119

$190

$143

169 

83 

83 

$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

Tax Relief Payments Projects

Dollars in Billions

Obligations by Type

Obligated Remaining

$288 $273

$226
7

The final third of the Act comes in the form of projects. These projects are not only comprised of the 

critical work that needs to be done to rebuild our country today, but also the work that needs to be done to 

lay the foundation for a stronger economy – one that will position America to compete for the jobs and in 

the industries of tomorrow. Investments in new technologies such as high speed rail, health information 

technology, and the clean energy economy were designed to start spending out later in the Act and to last 

longer, providing an infusion of funds to keep the recovery on track. And here too, much progress has 

been made. In fact, while many doubted the speed at which such funds could be put to work, the federal 

agencies in charge of implementing these programs instead just worked harder and organized around the 

goal to make sure those doubts did not become reality. And the results are clear: in fact, despite this 

being the smallest of the three parts of the Recovery Act, just about a third of money currently at work 

(obligations + taxes) is coming from project related activity. Moreover, the majority of project funds are 

already obligated. This means that economic activity is already underway as states and localities hire 

contractors, companies hire workers, and work gets started. And much more project work is still to come.

As shown in Figure 7 above, even with these different spend out rates, all three categories have 

committed funds at work in the economy. 

It is also important to note that, of the $166 billion in funds remaining to be obligated, almost every dollar 

has already been spoken for, even if not yet obligated. Many of the ‘payment’ types of funds, such as 

Medicaid, are allocated on a quarterly basis, and are not obligated until the start of each quarter. Of the 

project related funds, many, such as High Speed Rail and smart grid funds, have already been awarded 

to recipients but have yet to be obligated. In addition, approximately $20 billion in unobligated funding is 

related to Health IT investments some of which will be awarded later this year, and the rest of which will 

be spent in the form of incentive payments starting in 2011 for providers who adopt Health IT.

Ahead of Anticipated Pace

Though each part of the Act was designed to spend at different rates, the Act overall represents one of 

the largest and fastest infusions of direct funding into the economy. Just as the Congress understood the 

urgency of passing the Recovery Act, so too did the Federal agencies and their partners in charge of

implementing it. In fact, Recovery Act funds have not only moved into the economy quickly, but the pace 

has also exceeded the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) original ambitious projection, as shown in 

Figure 8.

Part of keeping up the pace of moving funds out into the economy is tied directly to the oversight and 

management capabilities of the Federal agencies. Agencies have worked diligently to move funds out the 

door as fast as possible, while not sacrificing the careful selection processes, monitoring, and oversight 

necessary to make sure that Recovery Act funds are being used in a prudent manner. Understanding 

that speed in getting funds into the economy is crucial to achieving the goals of the Act, agencies, such 

as the Department of Defense, have reallocated funds from projects that, while worthy, are not able to 

execute in a timely fashion. In other cases, agencies have realized bid savings on project costs – and 

have quickly reallocated those “excess” funds to new projects, allowing more projects to be started than 

originally projected. For example, in August, the Department of Homeland Security was able to quickly 

reallocate $240 million in bid savings on current projects to new in-line baggage screening projects at ten 

additional airports across the country8

 

8 http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1251299226398.shtm

.
8

Figure 8 Recovery Act Spending vs. CBO Spending Projection as of September 30, 20099

It is important to note that ARRA funds are not only going out ahead of schedule, but also with

unprecedented transparency. The last recipient reporting period, covering work through December 2009,

exhibited over 160,000 reports from those recipients required to submit reports on ARRA funds. Those 

160,000 reports were reviewed and made public on deadlines that are faster than any other major 

financial reporting activities would require.10

What We’ve Done So Far

 

Funds across the three major categories of spending –Rescue, Recovery, and Reinvestment – are 

moving out into the economy, as can be seen in Figure 9 below. 

 

9 CBO; Financial and Activity Reports as of 9/30/09

10 Financial reports such as the Non-profit IRS 990, Private Sector Year-End SEC 10K, and the Private Sector 

Quarterly SEC 10Q, and the deadlines for federal agency financial statements.

$185 $195 

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

$200

9/30/2009

Outlays and Tax Relief, in Billions

ARRA Spending Vs. CBO Projection

CBO Estimate Actual
9

Figure 9 Top Ten Obligated Programs as of the end of January, 201011

At of the end of January, the majority of funds that have been disbursed into the economy were those 

providing Rescue and Relief to Americans, including the estimated $119 billion dollars in tax relief 

provided as of the end of January. In addition to tax relief, $190 billion in obligations and $145 billion in 

outlays (over 80 percent of all outlays) had gone towards direct support of individuals, states and cities, 

supporting programs such as:

• Unemployment Insurance – both the extension of benefits up to 79 weeks as well as an increase 

in the amount of payments (these have since been expanded and extended by further 

legislation);

• Medicaid – allowing states to maintain benefits and support increasing numbers of people 

requiring medical care;

• State Fiscal Stabilization funds – providing much needed funds for state governments to use to 

support both education as well as other government services;

 

11 Financial and Activity Report as of 1/29/10

$54.3 

$36.9 

$13.9 

$10.0 

$8.7 

$8.5 

$12.2 

$24.0 

$14.1 

Top Ten Obligated Programs ($B)

Medicaid

State Fiscal Stabilization 

Social Security, Veterans, & RRB 

Payments

Education for the Disadvantaged

Student Financial Assistance

Food Stamp Program

Special Education

Highway Infrastructure Investments

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy
10

A distribution of the obligations associated with these payments can be seen in the following chart.

Figure 10 Distribution of Obligations Associated with Payments in the Recovery Act, as of the end of 

January, 201012

The remaining funds that are those supporting projects, such as investments in highways, airports, water 

projects, housing and other infrastructure projects, as well as projects in green energy programs and 

other programs that help build industries of tomorrow. In total, over $140 billion has been obligated to 

project related activities. As shown in Figure 11 below, these funds span a wide array of programs and,

as such, are more fragmented than are the funds that go towards “payments.”

 

12 Financial and Activity Reports as of 1/29/10

30%

29%

19%

7%

5%

5%

4%

1%

Distribution of Payment Related Obligations ($190B)

Unemployment Insurance

Medicaid

State Fiscal Stabilization

Social Security & Veterans 

Payments

Education for the Disadvantaged

Student Financial Assistance

Food Stamps

Temporary Assistance for Needy 

Families
11

Figure 11 Distribution of Obligations Associated with Projects in the Recovery Act as of the end of January, 

201013

And areas such as HHS’s Health IT program, DOE’s smart grid or loan guarantee programs, Commerce’s 

and USDA’s broadband programs, or DOT’s high speed rail program have all started or finished awarding 

their funds, have all started obligating their funds, and will all play a bigger role in recovery in the year 

ahead.

With over $453 billion obligated, or almost 60 percent of the Recovery Act at work in the economy today, 

the stories that speak to those funds’ effects and the yardsticks that measure the funds’ impact abound. 

Since the Recovery Act’s passage a year ago, we have:

• Cut taxes for 95 percent of working families through the Making Work Pay tax Credit – that’s $37 

billion in tax relief for 110 million working families in 2009

• Made loans to over 42,000 small businesses, providing them with nearly $20 billion in muchneeded capital.

• Funded over 12,500 transportation construction projects nationwide, ranging from highway 

construction to airport improvement projects.

• Funded projects at 51 Superfund sites from the National Priority List. Of those sites, 34 already 

have on-site construction.

 

13 Financial and Activity weekly reports from agencies as of 1/29/10.

17%

10%

4%

4%

4%

3%

3%

55%

Distribution of Project Related Obligations ($143B)

Highway Infrastructure 

Investments

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy Projects

Transit Capital Assistance

Clean Water & Drinking Water 

Projects

Grants to States for Low-Income 

Housing Projects

Defense Environmental Cleanup

Public Housing Capital Fund

Other Programs
12

• Started more than 2,850 construction and improvement projects at over 350 military facilities 

nationwide, with more than 950 projects completed.

• Made multi-billion dollar investments in innovation, science and technology that are laying the 

foundation for our 21st century economy including:

o $2.4 billion in grants to companies and educational institutions in over 20 states to fund 

48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will help power the next 

generation of advanced vehicles.

o $3.4 billion in grants to private companies, utilities, manufacturers and cities to fund smart 

energy grid projects that will support tens of thousands of jobs and benefit consumers in 

49 states.

o The first of over $7 billion in awards to bring broadband to communities where there is 

little or no access – a significant step forward in driving local economic development.

o More than $5 billion in grants to fund 12,000 cutting-edge medical research projects at 

research and educational institutions in every state across the country.

o $8 billion in awards to fund projects in 31 states that lay a foundation for a high speed rail 

network here in the U.S. – a move that will not only create jobs and drive economic 

growth, but jump-start a critical element of our 21st century infrastructure.

• Provided critical relief for state governments facing record budget shortfalls, including: 

o More than $50 billion to help prevent cuts to Medicaid programs across the country.

o Nearly $60 billion in funding for education – a move that governors say is already 

responsible for creating and saving over 300,000 education jobs in the fourth quarter of 

2009

But we will not be satisfied until every dollar is at work, aiding Americans hurt and out of work, helping 

Americans who want a job find a job, and building the economy of tomorrow.

Looking Ahead With the Recovery Act

Progress toward Our Goals

Looking forward, we have a clear goal to disburse (outlays + taxes) 70 percent of Recovery Act funds, or 

$551 billion, by September 30, 2010. We are on track to achieve this goal. 

We have disbursed to date nearly $300 billion in outlays and taxes for an average monthly rate of about 

$27 billion. Of that $27 billion, $11 billion has been in the form of tax relief and $16 billion in spending. 

To achieve our goal for a $551 billion in disbursements by the end of September, we will need to disburse 

$32 billion per month going forward, a pace which we will meet or exceed. From February onwards, 

monthly tax relief should increase from $11 billion to $18 billion. Though the mix in type of outlays will 
13

change significantly going forward, as discussed later in this report, the rate of outlays will not see a 

drastic change given the continued focus on turning obligations into outlays and the increase in tax relief 

that we expect. Nevertheless, we expect to see a flat to modest increase in the pace of outlays which will 

further ensure that we meet our September 30, 2010 disbursement target.

Vice President Biden has directed all agencies to submit regular obligation and outlay updates, and has 

made clear to all agencies that these forecasts are the basis of meeting the Administration’s goal of

getting money into the economy quickly. These forecasts are being tracked rigorously and deviations will 

be addressed immediately.

Figure 12 Outlays and Tax Relief, Current and Target14

Mix of Outlays Changes in 2010, With Projects Spending Accounting for a Larger Share

Just as tax relief will play a major part in 2010 disbursements, so will spending, as outlays comprise the 

second and critical part to meeting the goal of disbursing 70 percent of the Act by September 30. In the 

months ahead, there will be a modest uptick in the monthly outlay rate of the Act. More importantly 

however, the mix in spending will shift significantly from being primarily payment driven to being more 

evenly matched between payments and projects. In fact, monthly project outlays are expected to more 

than double compared to the 2009 average. Since payments were the portion of the Act most quickly 

disbursed in 2009 to rescue the economy from freefall, 2010 payment outlays may see a slight drop off in 

pace. Nevertheless, total monthly outlays will see a modest uptick which will be driven by projects.

 

14 Data from 02/12/2010. Tax dollars data from the Office of Tax Analysis estimates. 

119.2

140.8

260

179

112.1

291.1

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Through Jan 2010 Feb - Sept 2010 Sept 30, 2010 Target

Dollars in Billions

Outlays and Tax Relief, Current and Target

Tax Relief Outlays

298.2

252.9 551.1
14

Figures 13 and 14 Projected Outlays through June 201015

Building on the Successes of the First Year

The increase expected in overall outlay pace going forward, as well as in the change in mix, can be 

directly traced to a groundwork that was laid in the first year of the Act’s implementation. Through the 

 

15 Data as of 1/29/10; quarters based on calendar year. Projections have been calibrated to match actual outlays. 

Source: Agency spending projections; administration estimates.

$3 B

$7 B

$14 B

$11 B

$0

$2

$4

$6

$8

$10

$12

$14

$16

$18

$20

Through Dec 2009 Jan - June 2010

Average Monthly Outlays, Billions

Projected Outlays through June 2010

Payments

Projects

133%

6%

$4,171

$9,316

$15,825

$18,967 $20,696

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Jan - June 2009 Jul - Sep 2009 Oct - Dec 2009 Jan - Mar 2010 Apr - Jun 2010

Quarterly Outlays, Millions

Projected Project Outlays by Quarter
15

end of January, a total of $334 billion in spending had been obligated, of which $179 billion had been 

outlayed. The portion of obligations made up by payments was greater than the portion made up by 

projects, but by less than 15 percent. However, the split within the portion outlayed is dramatically 

different, with over four times as much going towards payments v. projects. In other words, less than one 

fifth of outlays through January were project related outlays. Thus, project related dollars that are already 

obligated and working in today’s economy will transition into significant corresponding outlays. By the 

numbers, in addition to the money that is left to be obligated, there remains $112 billion in obligated 

project dollars that have yet to be outlayed, while by contrast, there remains only $43 billion in obligated 

payment dollars that have yet to be outlayed.

Figure 15 Obligated and Outlayed Dollars to Projects and Payments, February 2009 through January 201016

 

16 Financial and Activty Weekly reports from agencies

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Obligated Outlayed

Obligated and Outlayed Dollars to Projects and Payments

Payments Projects

57%

43%

17%

83%
16

Figure 16 Obligations and Outlays in Projects and Payments, February 2009 through January 201017

Therefore, fueled largely by a strong first year performance of getting dollars awarded and projects 

obligated and started, the year ahead will see a capitalizing on an inventory of work that is awarded and 

“ready to go”. This capitalizing explains much of the increase in outlay pace as well as the change in 

outlay mix that will be seen in the months ahead. 

Further evidence of this lies in reports filed by a portion of Recovery Act funding recipients who, by law,

report on the use of their funds every quarter. These recipients filed reports in January detailing the 

status and progress made on their awards through December 31, 2009. Despite the sizeable activity that 

these recipients depict, their reports tell us that the vast majority of their projects are less than half 

complete. This assessment remains the same whether made in terms of project numbers or in terms of 

dollars as is seen in Figure 17.

 

17 Financial and Activty Weekly reports from agencies

$147 

$31 

$43 

$112 

$-

$20 

$40 

$60 

$80 

$100 

$120 

$140 

$160 

$180 

$200 

Payments Projects

Dollars in Billions

Obligations and Outlays in Projects and Payments

Outlayed Obligated

$143

$190
17

Figure 17 Projects and Dollars by Level of Completeness18

With a strong and increasing base of awards that have been made, and with large numbers of awards 

that still have more than half of their work remaining to be done, the level of on-the-ground work being 

done by the Recovery Act will remain strong and the pace of outlays will accelerate during Fiscal Year 

2010.

Signature Projects Come Online

In addition to the increase from standard infrastructure related projects, 2010 will also see work getting 

underway on several of the longer-term signature investments in the Recovery Act, including the recently 

awarded High Speed Rail, Health IT and Broadband related grants. The table below provides some 

highlights on signature programs – part of the Reinvestment phase of ARRA – that are scheduled to 

spend out over 2010 and beyond, keeping the Recovery moving forward.

 

18 Second Quarter Prime Recipient Reports as posted on Recovery.gov on Feb 10, 2009

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Number of Projects

Projects by % Complete

Fully Completed:

7,156 Projects

More than 50% 

Complete: 9,720

Less than 50% 

Complete: 34,998

Not Started: 

13,953

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Dollars in Billions

Dollars Awarded by % Complete

Fully Completed: $4.8

More than 50% 

Complete: $25.2

Less than 50% 

Complete: $121.1

Not Started: 

$21.5
18

Agency Program Cost Awarded? Still to 

Obligate

Still to 

Outlay Notes

HHS Health IT $20B In process $19B $20B

Extension centers and state grants just 

awarded their first batches of funds, 

with more to come. Beacon 

communities and remaining upfront 

portions of spend will commence 

awarding in the months ahead, while 

the remaining $20B+ in incentive 

payments for adopting Health IT will 

start in 2011.

HHS NIH grants $10B In process ~$5B ~$9B

Outlays will be steadily drawn down 

over 2010 and 2011, with a surge in 

August and September when multiyear

research grants and contracts receive 

their second year of funding

DOE Smart Grid $4.5B Completed $1.6B $4.5B

Awards were made in October and, as 

the funds are placed under contract, 

awardees will start expanding 

operations and hiring

DOE 1705 Loan 

Guarantees $4B In process $3.9B $4.0B

As loans move from the conditional 

offer to the contract closing phases, 

companies will expand and create jobs

DOE Weatherization $5B Completed $0.2B $4.5B

Most states have recently finished 

establishing and training a workforce, 

and nationwide units weatherized 

should number in the 10s of 1000s per 

month going forward

DOT High Speed 

Rail $8B Completed $8B $8B

Rail corridor awards were announced 

on January 28th. Now that all awards 

have been announced, funds will be 

obligated and drawn down over time.

DOC/ 

USDA Broadband $7.2B In process ~$6.9B ~$7.2B

First awards were announced in 

December and January. Rolling 

announcements are underway and the 

program expects to be fully awarded 

by Sept. 2010.

ED Race to the 

Top $4.3B Not started yet $4.3B $4.3B

Applications have been received in 

January. Awards are expected in the 

spring.

Figure 18 Signature ARRA Project Status19

 

19 Financial and Activity Report data as of January 29th, 2010.
19

Chapter 2: A State View on Recovery

Obligations by State

As mentioned in Chapter 1 above, the initial concentration of ARRA funds went out through payments to 

states and individuals. Figure 19 below shows the latest amount of funding obligated on a per state 

basis.

Figure 19 Obligations per state20

Highlighted Projects:

Funding aside, the real story to be seen at the state level is the projects that are underway, changing the 

face of the country and putting people to work. Highlighted below are just some of the over 55,000 

projects currently approved that are supported by ARRA funding. These projects provide a 

representative sample of the entire universe of ARRA projects. However, ARRA funded projects are not 

limited to just these types. These projects were selected as they will have a lasting impact on our nation's 

infrastructure and economy.

California

Solyndra, Inc: Solyndra, Inc. received a loan guarantee in September 2009 to finance up to $535 million 

to build a factory that will manufacture innovative cylindrical solar photovoltaic cells. The annual output of 

solar panels from the first phase of the expansion will go to generating the energy equivalent of powering 

 

20 Data as of January 29, 2010. Source: Financial and Activity Report

$23.4B

$34.8B

$19.3B

$14.9B

$10.3B

$10.7B

$12.5B

$12.3B

$8.6B

$5.1B

$5.1B

$5.1B

$5.3B

$5.4B

$5.7B

$6.3B

$6.5B

$7.9B

$8.1B

$2.6B

$3.4B

$2.7B

$3.1B

$3.6B

$3.7B

$3.7B

$3.9B

$3.9B

$4.0B

$4.0B

$4.9B

$1.3B

$1.3B

$1.3B

$1.3B

$1.5B

$1.6B

$1.9B

$1.9B

$2.2B

$2.4B

$2.6B

$753M

$821M

$912M

$961M

$1.1B

$1.1B

$1.2B

$598M

$8.4B
20

24,000 homes a year. Construction of the new site has already created 541 direct jobs. Solyndra 

estimates that the new plant will initially create 3,000 construction jobs and lead to as many as 1,000 

permanent jobs once the facility opens. The first solar panels are scheduled to come off the line in 

October this year. 

California DOT and HSR Authority, High Speed Rail: The California Department of Transportation and 

the California High Speed Rail Authority were awarded $2.35 billion on January 28, 2010 for the 

construction of a new, electrically powered high-speed rail system of 800 miles with over 300 trains per 

day. Phase I calls for a 520-mile system connecting Anaheim and Los Angeles through the Central Valley 

to San Francisco by 2020, while Phase II would extend the system north to Sacramento and south to San 

Diego by 2026. Trains will reach speeds of 220mph, providing a travel time between Los Angeles and 

San Francisco of less than 2 hours 40 minutes, compared to 6 hours by car. At full build-out, California 

expects up to 100 million passengers per year, making it one of the busiest passenger rail lines in the 

world. Survey work has already begun. 

Florida

Florida DOT, Expressway Connector Project: The Florida Department of Transportation has received a 

$105 million grant on October 30, 2009 to build the I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector, a new toll road 

that will connect Interstate 4 to the Selmon Expressway. This road will provide commercial trucks direct 

access to the Port of Tampa and make the movement of goods more efficient. In building this new road, 

Recovery Act dollars are helping create a safer, more efficient means of transportation for visitors, 

commuters and commerce in the area.

Kansas

Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc.: Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc. has received a $51.6 million loan 

and a $49.5 million grant in Recovery Act money on January 25, 2010 from the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Broadband Initiatives Program. Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc. has already hired four new 

employees, and engineering and electronics firms associated with the project have created or saved 28 

jobs. The project will provide broadband service in an area of western Kansas that is 99.5 percent

unserved or underserved, and covers 21 communities and 26 rural areas spanning over 4,600 square 

miles. It will provide the infrastructure required for economic stability, education and healthcare.

Massachusetts 

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) in Boston received 

$24.7 million in Recovery Act funding from the Department of Energy. The CEC will design, construct, 

and operate the Large Wind Turbine Blade Test Facility—an advanced blade testing facility capable of 

testing blades up to at least 70 meters in length on three test stands. CEC has already reported the 

creation of 30 jobs in management, design, engineering and construction, and will use Recovery Act 

funds to accelerate the project schedule in anticipation of increasing domestic growth and continued 

large-scale domestic deployment of wind energy.

New Bedford Harbor, Superfund Site Cleanup: The New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in New Bedford, 

Massachusetts received $30 million in Recovery Act funds on April 15, 2009 to accelerate the ongoing 

cleanup of an urban tidal estuary with sediments that are highly contaminated with polychlorinated 

biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals. The project has already created 82 new jobs, and will help facilitate 

the City’s plans to develop shoreline public access and wetland restoration in the upper and lower harbor 
21

areas. Since initiating ARRA-funded work in June, EPA has dredged approximately 25,000 cubic yards of 

contaminated sediments.

Michigan

A123, EERE/Battery Manufacturing and Electric Drive Component Grants: A123 is using its $249 million 

award to build battery factories in Livonia, Romulus and Brownstown, Michigan. The company, which 

received its award on December 3, 2009, has already reported the creation of 90 new jobs, and expects 

to hire over 3,000 people by 2012. A123 has partnerships with several well known carmakers, and the 

company's first large scale plant is a great story of American innovation. The company started as a 

spinoff from MIT's labs in 2001, with help from a $100,000 DOE Small Business Innovation Research 

grant. Since its inception, A123's small, five-person operation has grown to 1,600 employees worldwide.

In 2009, A123 held a successful initial public offering and raised over $300 million.

New York

ION Hold Co. LLC, Broadband Initiative: ION Hold Co. LLC was awarded $39.7 million in December 

2009 to implement a rural broadband infrastructure project. ION will build 10 new segments of fiber optic 

middle mile broadband infrastructure serving more than 70 rural communities in upstate New York and 

parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont. The project will enable wired and wireless last mile service providers 

to make broadband more readily available to 250,000 households and 38,000 businesses, and extend 

middle mile infrastructure to low-income rural areas with higher than average unemployment.

Ohio 

Ohio DOT, Nelsonville Bypass Project: The Ohio Department of Transportation has received $138 million 

for the Nelsonville Bypass project which is the largest infusion of Recovery Act funds Ohio has received 

for a single project. The Ohio DOT has already broken ground on the new 8.5 mile, four-lane highway to 

divert freight traffic away from town. The project is already on its way to supporting 305 jobs. The 

Nelsonville Bypass will take trucks off the local roads, which will allow the 620,000 trucks that travel this 

route every year to pass through more quickly and efficiently. The new bypass, which is the final upgrade 

of the U.S. 33 corridor in southeast Ohio, will also provide the needed transportation infrastructure to 

support current and future commerce to Appalachia.

Oregon

Cascade Sierra Solutions, EPA Grant: Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS), based in Coburg, Oregon, has 

received a $9 million SmartWay Clean Diesel Innovative Finance Program Grant from the Environmental 

Protection Agency on July 29, 2009. CSS is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving fuel and 

reducing emissions from diesel engines, and will use this grant to fund the financing of truck replacement 

and retrofit projects, targeting heavy-duty diesel trucks. CSS reports that it has been able to create or 

save 80 jobs using the EPA grant. According to CSS, this lease program for trucking companies it has 

extended to drivers would not have been possible without ARRA money.

Pennsylvania

Research on Genomic Function, National Institutes of Health: Pennsylvania State University was 

awarded $750,000 in October 2009 to conduct research on genome function. Principal Investigator Ross 

Hardison’s study is one of many research projects across the nation dedicated to using the tools and 
22

technologies produced by the Human Genome Project to better understand biology and improve human 

health. Fueled by $1 billion in new funding, these efforts will allow researchers to make quantum leaps in 

studying the genomic changes linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, autism and many other health 

conditions — paving the way for new strategies to detect, treat and prevent disease.

Fidelis Construction, Coatesville VA Medical Center: Fidelis Construction, a veteran-owned business, 

has received a $2.3 million Recovery Act contract on September 17, 2009 for a pharmacy renovation 

project at the VA Medical Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. The company has already begun to hire 

new employees and estimates that the project will create 40 jobs. The goal of the renovation is to improve 

the efficiency and privacy of a hospital pharmacy that serves around 22,000 veterans.

South Carolina

Itron, Inc, Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit: Itron, Inc was selected to receive a $5 million 

renewable energy manufacturing tax credit on January 8, 2010 that will allow it to expand its smart grid 

component manufacturing facility in South Carolina. The company recently expanded its North American 

facilities that produce circuit boards and "smart" meters to accommodate increasing orders for smart grid 

components to supply recipients of the Smart Grid Investment Grant and demonstration projects. Itron is 

actively hiring new employees at all of their North American facilities, and has currently increased its 

number of employees in the South Carolina facility to 900 full and part-time workers. The re-equipped 

facility will allow an annual production capacity of 4 million meters, and Itron estimates that a single year's 

output will be able to reduce electricity use by approximately 1.7 million MWh per year.

Texas

Fort Bliss, Wounded Warriors Unit: Fort Bliss was awarded $51 million of DOD’s Recovery Act funding

on May 1, 2009 to complete a Wounded Warriors Unit for recuperating injured soldiers and their families 

in El Paso, Texas. The project is expected to benefit thousands of soldiers and their families over the 

lifetime of the facility. The project has already created or saved 45 jobs, and will employ more than 50 

staff upon completion. The three-building complex includes a 140,000-square-foot barracks capable of 

housing 232 injured soldiers. The project also includes a soldier and family assistance center, and a 

warrior care headquarters and administrative building. Construction of the complex has already begun. 
23

Chapter 3: Selected Accomplishments

To meet the goals of the Recovery Act, 28 federal agencies were given the responsibility of using both 

existing and new programs to provide the Rescue, Recovery and Reinvestment funds necessary to jump 

start the economy. The agencies have dedicated teams of people throughout the nation to provide 

outreach, counseling, assistance and oversight to recipients of funds. In most cases, federal agencies do 

not spend the funds themselves, but rely on their state and local government, non-profit, and private 

sector partners to execute the missions that Congress set out.

Below, we have summarized selected accomplishments from some of the federal agencies and their 

recipient partners. For a more complete description of agency level activities, please go to the websites 

of the individual agencies.

Department of Transportation

• Improving our Nation’s Highways and Transit Systems: The single largest investment of 

Recovery Act transportation dollars – $27.5 billion – was targeted at improving highways and 

bridges. As we approach the one-year anniversary, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

has approved 11,300 highway projects in total. More than 2,100 of these projects have been 

completed and nearly 7,000 are currently underway. 

Similarly, the Recovery Act provided $8.4 billion to be used to improve transit systems. During 

the past year, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the purchase of more than 

11,000 bus and rail vehicles. Many of these will replace buses and other vehicles that have 

surpassed their useful life. At the same time, these purchases support domestic manufacturing 

jobs right here in America. 

• Making the Vision for High-Speed Rail a Reality: The $8 billion to establish America's high speed 

rail capability is a significant down payment for 13 new, substantial high-speed rail corridors in 31 

states across the country. And with over $55 billion in project proposals for the initial $8 billion in 

funds awarded, there is obviously strong interest in the development of high-speed rail throughout 

the country. Federal support for High Speed Rail is unlocking other investment. For example, 

California has pledged to match the $2.25 billion in Recovery Act funded High Speed Rail grants.

Department of Education

• Sustaining Schools in Crisis: Faced with dramatic declines in revenues last year, states were on 

the brink of financial crisis. The primary goal of ARRA education grants was to fill dramatic 

budget shortfalls, protect the jobs of teachers and other workers in our school systems, and 

provide stability for our students. The Department of Education is doing just that. It has made 

$69 billion in awards to fill $34 billion in state education budget gaps for FY 09 and ’10 and is 

funding over 300,000 education jobs out of a total of 400,000 public service jobs nationwide.

These ARRA funds also prevented tuition increases in universities and colleges throughout the 

nation.

• Advancing Much Needed Education Reforms: In addition to supporting education jobs 

throughout the country, Recovery Act funds have laid the groundwork for needed reforms that will 

improve our schools. Twelve states have passed significant legislation to align themselves with 
24

the criteria for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top (RTT) grant competition in which forty-one states 

are participating. Other Recovery Act education awards are also at work improving our nation’s 

schools. Specifically, 23 states were able to expand and improve special education programs 

through the use of ARRA grants. Furthermore, 24 states used ARRA funds for essential 

instructional technology upgrades.

U.S. Department of Energy

• Launching the U.S. Smart Grid: $4B in Recovery Act funds have been committed to modernizing 

the electricity grid, including obligated funding that will support the deployment of nearly 18 million 

smart meters and 877 digital sensors across the entire US transmission system to provide realtime system data to improve reliability and help better manage peak demand. These investments 

are important first steps toward the modernization of our nation’s power infrastructure that will 

result in a grid that can detect outages before they happen, re-route power where it is needed, 

and aid in connecting renewable energy resources to the grid.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Improving Homes in Urban America: ARRA provided housing loans and capital funding to build 

or renovate homes in urban America to save, stabilize, and invest in some of our most critical 

housing situations across America. HUD has been aggressive in its goals for this program and 

has rehabbed or developed 143,422 units across three HUD programs, substantially higher than 

its original targets. 

Department of Health and Human Services

• Serving More Patients through Federally Qualified Health Centers: Health Resources and 

Services Administration awarded Recovery Act funds that served nearly 1.6 million new patients 

in more than 1,100 health centers in 50 States and eight Territories, including more than 920,000 

uninsured patients. Health Centers provide comprehensive, quality and affordable primary and 

preventive health care services for medically underserved individuals across the country. 

• Reinvesting in Scientific Research: The Recovery Act has provided a tremendous boost to 

scientific research. As of Feb. 1, the National Institutes of Health has funded 13,680 research 

projects at universities research institutions in all 50 states, supporting innovative projects to 

address major challenges in biomedical research and accelerate critical breakthroughs and 

applied research on cutting-edge technologies. 

Department of Labor

• Extending the Net for the Unemployed: As of January 29, 2010, the Recovery Act has funded 

over $49 billion in benefits to unemployed workers. These funds directly help families struggling 

to make ends meet during this recession. DOL has also distributed $2.8 billion to 32 states for 

Unemployment Insurance Modernization incentive payments, which increased the share of 

unemployed workers receiving benefits to its highest level in over 30 years. 
25

Department of Commerce

• Building the Infrastructure of the 21st Century: The Department of Commerce awarded six 

infrastructure grants (GA, ME, NY, SD, NC, MI) for a total of $180.7 million that will result in 

increased access to broadband for more than 3,000 schools, libraries, hospitals and public safety 

entities. This represents nearly 4,400 miles of additional middle mile broadband fiber deployed to 

for unserved and underserved areas, including economically disadvantaged areas. 

• Driving Economic Development in our Communities: The Department of Commerce is putting 

$150 million of Recovery Act funding to work today with funding for 68 projects in 37 states—and 

just as importantly, it will create a cycle of investment, innovation, and job creation for tomorrow.

These funds are creating high-skill, high-wage jobs, and attracting private investment. In the first 

quarter of fiscal year 2010 alone, EDA has leveraged $792 million in private investment—a return 

of more than nine to one. 

Department of Agriculture

• Increased Food Benefits for Over 38 Million People Each Month: The Recovery Act increases 

the benefits for those participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, 

formerly named the Food Stamp Program), which helps low-income households better meet their 

nutritional needs. On average, households of four receive an increase in benefits of $80 per 

month. This increase not only provides more food to families who need it, but also delivers a 

direct and immediate stimulus to the economy. Almost all (97 percent) of SNAP benefits are 

redeemed in grocery stores or farmer’s markets within 30 days. Currently, more than $830 million 

in ARRA SNAP benefits are spent at food retailers each month. 

Department of the Treasury

• Provided State and Local Governments Much Needed Access to Capital through the Build 

America Bond (BAB) Program: The BAB program has given state and local governments much 

needed access to capital by allowing them to issue taxable debt while receiving a payment from 

Treasury for 35 percent of the interest cost. The program has allowed issuers to attract new 

investors such as pension funds and foreign investors who typically do not buy tax-exempt 

municipal debt. Because of the availability of BABs, local governments have been able to 

accelerate much needed projects such as school construction and water upgrades. From the 

program’s inception on April 3, 2009 until January 31st, 2010, over $70.8 billion of BABs have 

been issued by 47 states in 834 separate issues representing roughly 19.2 percent of municipal 

bond market issuances. 

• Investing in Renewable Energy: Since July 2009, Treasury has made nearly $2.4 billion in 

payments in lieu of tax credits, offsetting nearly $8 billion in investments in renewable energy 

production in 273 separate properties across 36 states and Puerto Rico. These properties have 

already produced more than 11.7 billion kilowatt hours of energy, enough to power 1.1 million 

homes for an entire year from renewable sources produced within the United States.
26

Department of the Interior

• Investing in Our Nation’s Parks: The Department of the Interior has invested approximately $100 

million to restore and improve some of our nation’s most iconic structures, such as the Jefferson 

Memorial in DC, and the Skyline Drive in Virginia. To date, 21 different parks have had 

improvement awards made. The Department is also using almost $270 million in funds to 

enhance the infrastructure, facilities and overall user experience within some of our most 

treasured landscapes in our National Parks and Wildlife refuges, such as replacing the visitor 

center at the Dinosaur National Park in Utah. On-site work is underway on 243 projects in 

National Parks, with 86 projects already completed, and over 670 Fish and Wildlife Service 

projects have started as well.

Department of Homeland Security

• Emergency Food and Shelter Grants: The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board has 

distributed more than $96 million to more than 10,450 local organizations across the country.

This funding provided almost 48 million meals, over 3 million nights of emergency shelter, over 

164 thousand utility payments, and helped over 75,000 families with rental assistance in the most 

troubling times of the current recession.

• Aviation Security: TSA has awarded over $576 million to date for inline baggage handling 

systems at 16 airports, closed circuit television at 12 airports, and screening. This program 

assures the flying public of safer, more efficient travel and reduces wait times for boarding.

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Improving 120 Veteran Medical Centers across 45 states, Providing Facilities that are Safer, 

More Secure, and Energy Efficient: VA is investing $1 billion in Recovery Act funding to make 

over 940 medical infrastructure improvements to enhance the safety, security, and energy 

efficiency of VA facilities nationwide. Projects at VA Medical Centers include renovations to 

inpatient and outpatient care units; the expansion and modernization of Traumatic Brain Injury, 

Rehabilitation, Intensive Care, and Vascular Surgery units; and the expansion and modernization 

of outpatient pharmacies. 

• Funded Major Renovation and Modernization of State Veteran Homes: VA Recovery Act funding 

provides financial assistance to states to construct/acquire nursing home, domiciliary and adult 

day health care facilities for Veterans. First year accomplishments included funding 29 projects in 

18 states for the renovation of State Veteran Homes to create new and modern facilities to house 

our Nation’s Veterans. These homes provide a total of nearly 7,000 beds for our Nation's 

Veterans.

General Services Administration

• GSA Put the Construction Industry to Work Building a Clean Energy Economy: GSA has put 

more than 400 companies to work on clean energy projects across the country so far. At a time 

when there isn’t much work going around, GSA is driving the industry toward green projects and 

technologies. In addition, bids on projects have consistently come in 8-10 percent under budget 

allowing GSA to make its Recovery Act funds go farther – funding more than $165 million worth 
27

of additional work without any additional cost to the taxpayer – while improving its processes to 

be better and faster now and in the future.

Environmental Protection Agency

• Revitalizing Water and Wastewater Infrastructure: A total of $6 billion in Recovery Act funds has 

gone to 50 State and 6 Territorial programs to capitalize Clean Water State Revolving Fund 

(CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs and provide direct 

grants for projects in the territories. The States and Territories have provided assistance for 

approximately 3000 projects serving over 114 million people (65 million under the CWSRF 

program, 49 million under the DWSRF program). Approximately $1.6 billion is being spent on 

“green” projects, such as projects that address water efficiency, energy efficiency, green 

infrastructure, and other environmental innovations.