Samuel Hoffman | The Journal Gazette
A Hoosier health boost Dr. Terrell Bond Jr. is medical director for Neighborhood Health Clinics, where $340,000 in stimulus dollars will allow the community health center to hire a pediatrician, two nurses and a billing specialist. The new physician starts next month. Executive Director Mary Haupert said an additional grant for $675,000 is sought in a second round of funding to renovate and expand the clinics, 1717 S. Calhoun St. Two-thirds of the money awarded to state and local government in the current fiscal year will go to investments in health care, according to recovery.gov, the Web clearinghouse for stimulus spending information.
Laura J. Gardner | The Journal Gazette
Jobs, with a perk for parks Breely Schroeder, left, and Jesse Gadsby clean up leaves at the Trine State Recreation Area adjacent to Pokagon State Park, where 50 new employees have been hired so far with federal stimulus dollars allocated through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. About 2,000 Indiana residents will work this summer in state parks and recreation areas as part of the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps. The 16-week positions pay $8.50 an hour and are limited, by federal guidelines, to economically disadvantaged workers between the ages of 16 and 24. Preference is given to veterans and unemployed workers. Other area worksites include Roush Lake in Huntington, Chain O’ Lakes State Park in Noble County, Salamonie Lake in Huntington County and the Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site in Rome City.
Laura J. Gardner | The Journal Gazette
Infrastructure overhaul Runway reconstruction is planned for Smith Field Airport on Ludwig Road. Scott Hinderman of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority said the authority already has accepted bids for the $1.4 million project, but the contract award is awaiting final approval. A local contractor, Wayne Asphalt, is the apparent low bidder. At Fort Wayne International Airport, $1.2 million will be spent to replace navigational signs used by pilots on takeoff and landing. The funds for the latter are likely to be approved early this week.
Samuel Hoffman | The Journal Gazette
Dollars to the classroom Arcola Elementary School counselor Amy Saleh’s position, Title I student specialist, will be covered next year by a portion of Northwest Allen County Schools’ stimulus allocation. The district will receive $215,000 for Title I services and $1.2 million for special education services. The Title I money for the Arcola position allows the district to hire a counselor at the new Eel River Elementary School, which opens this fall. School districts throughout northeast Indiana are using stimulus dollars to bridge budget shortfalls.
While it might not be showing in terms of economic health, millions of dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are beginning to flow from Washington to northeast Indiana. There’s no single pipeline; instead the money is arriving through departments and agencies long experienced in applying for, receiving and accounting for federal funds.
Indiana has so far been notified it will receive about $2.4 billion in recovery act dollars, distributed through almost 50 different programs. The Fort Wayne Police Department alone is overseeing applications through five different programs, including a STOP Violence Against Women Grant, a COPS Hiring Grant and a Justice Assistance Grant in combination with the city of New Haven Police Department and Allen County Police Department.
“The federal rules require we account for the money separately,” FWPD grants manager Kenneth Gigli said. “They want to be able to track it.”
The police department hasn’t received official approval but has assurances that it will receive the dollars requested. That’s the case for much of the money sought by area agencies and governmental units.
Scott Hinderman, director of operations and facilities for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, said the organization has “strong indications” it will receive $1.2 million for airfield signs for the Fort Wayne International Airport and is expecting approval next month of a runway reconstruction project at Smith Field.
The assurances have been enough to put local officials to work hiring employees, preparing purchase agreements, advertising for bids and assigning school personnel. Here are just a few of the places where northeast Indiana residents will see stimulus dollars at work.
– Karen Francisco
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