State officials say $20.5 million is either en route or has flowed into Butler County through the federal stimulus program approved by U.S. lawmakers earlier this year. And the county is sharing another $745,000 with surrounding counties.
This is according to the first county-by-county breakdown of stimulus awards released by the state Thursday evening, July 2.
When showed the tally, county commissioners — all Republican — were far from thankful.
“From what I’ve seen, I don’t see anything that’s had any beneficial impact to Butler County whatsoever,” said Commission President Donald Dixon, saying that most of the money has gone to social services that will still be in trouble once the money dries up.
“I think it’s a lot of word games and lip service from what I’ve seen so far,” said Commissioner Charles Furmon.
Commissioner Gregory Jolivette said much of the money is still on its way and it is doing some good; but if it’s meant to jump start the economy, it has misfired so far.
“Clean water is good, but how does that put people to work?” he said, referencing $1.75 million the county received for the clean water state revolving fund.
Other items on the list:
• Ohio National Guard: $130,000 for the armory in Middletown.
• Transportation — Roads, bridges and rail projects: $8.3 million. This include construction stimulus funding for the Bypass Ohio 4 as well as U.S. 27, U.S. 127 and Ohio 122 projects at $5.5 million and $2.85 million, respectively.
• Education: National School Lunch Program, $15,000.
• Energy and Environment — $2.96 million for Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants.
• Work, Opportunity and Poverty — $864,000 for homelessness prevention; $785,000 for Community Services Block Grants to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and assist low income families; and $707,000 for Community Development Block Grants for affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure programs.
• Workforce Investment Act: $2.33 million to assist dislocated workers with job training and job search activities as well as youth employment services.
• Public Housing Capital Fund: $2.5 million for public housing agencies to modernize and develop public housing.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps): $127,000 to provide assistance to low income people and families to buy food.
Butler County also is sharing in multi-county allocations totalling $745,000 that includes: $375,000 for electrical repairs and updates at 18 Ohio National Guard facilities across the state; $188,000 in Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants with Hamilton County; and $182,000 in Community Development Block Grants to assist in affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development with Warren County.
More than $12.9 million in stimulus funding already has been allocated to Warren County.
