Understanding the Stimulus

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is designed to create and save jobs in response to one of the most severe economic crises since the Great Depression.    The act includes substantial funds for the states, to be spent over the next year and a half.  North Carolina’s share is $6.1 billion.  The money includes significant funds for education, health and human services (especially Medicaid) and transportation.  Much of these funds will either help people or programs hurt by the recession, or support projects that were already planned.  However, there are also significant funds for important new initiatives in the area of mass transit, energy, and water infrastructure.