The Act, signed by President Obama back in March, aims to save and create three to four million jobs, 90 percent of them in the private sector. Its supports claim it will provide more than $150 billion to low-income and vulnerable households — spurring increased economic activity that will save and create more than one million jobs.
Los Angeles has submitted several project applications (28 to be precise) that amount to a total of $449,342,464 being requested. To download a complete list of applications submitted by Los Angeles for 2009 ARRA Recovery Grants, click here.
Those of note include:
• The Community Policing Enhancement Through Hiring Program. The city has asked for $146,570,850 to fund this project from the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds have been confirmed.
• Port of L.A. Clean Trucks Program. $5 million dollars is being requested from the U.S. Department of Energy. Funds have yet to be confirmed.
“The city has applied for a bunch of stimulus money, but has yet to receive it for the Clean Trucks Program,” stated Olivia Kelly, Communications Directory for L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn. Hahn has served as a strong catalyst for the program and has been a supporter of the program throughout.
“If they are successful in getting the trucks they would have to use our services,” stated Lily Lee with Waste Management in Sun Valley. “They would help us with clean air issues. We welcome that kind of change,” stated Lee.
• Seaside Transportation Services (STS) Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane Electrification project. Amount requested is $8,964,900 from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Transportation and Air Quality. Confirmed status.
• LADOT Fast Charge Electric and Competitive Hybrid Electric Buses and Sustainability Features for the DOT Bus Maintenance Facility. Total amount requested from U.S. Department of Transportation being $18,300,000. Confirmed status.
• $500,000 for Local Youth Mentoring Initiatives being requested from the U.S. Department of Justice. Funds have been confirmed.
• $2,189,239 from the U.S. Department of Energy for Purchase and Deployment of Natural Gas Solid Waste Collection Vehicles. Yet to be confirmed.
• $19,258,184 for Entitlement Communities. Status yet to be confirmed.
The Port of L.A. Clean Trucks Program has provided an interesting situation for recovery act followers. The idea behind the program stands to create “green” trucks using alternative fuels, such as electricity and natural gas to reduce pollution from trucking fleets serving the harbor.
However, the program has hit some hard times.
Originally $20,000 was stated as incentives for companies interested in making the trucks, but more than the modestly expected amount applied. One-hundred large and small trucking companies turned out, with as many as 7,500 trucks requiring grant money over the course of the next year creating a huge problem.
Furthermore, state officials were forced to cut funding assistance and a federal agency blocked the collection of fees to support the program, forcing the L.A. port to dip into its slim budget for $44 million to cover the first 2,200 trucks.
This has caused problems, mainly that some trucking companies may no longer have the money needed to pay for the clean truck requirements.
“One of the problems is that local governments have to match requested funds, so that places a burden on the most troubled financial cities who have to match funds that they are given through the stimulus,” stated Schatz.
“The Port of L.A. Clean Trucks Program serves as a perfect example of the types of problems occurring all throughout the U.S.”
Schatz, along with many other Americans, find that some of these programs may have been hastily put together in the first place.
“Just because money can be spent quickly doesn’t mean it can be spent wisely,” Schatz confirmed.
Andrew Carico can be reached at acarico@publicceo.com