With American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, Pennsylvania is building lasting assets. Recovery Act awards are helping to pave roads and fix bridges, fund clean water projects, strengthen a public education system that continues to produce academic gains for students, and improve our state's environment and energy efficiency. The Recovery Act is also helping those most in need through extended unemployment benefits, food assistance and health care. In the process, Pennsylvania is creating tens of thousands of jobs. For more detailed information about projects in your county, follow the corresponding project link below. In instances where projects impact more than one county, the project and funding amount may appear in other county summaries. Many other projects in the county are funded by Recovery Act dollars distributed directly from federal agencies. Information on those projects is available at http://www.recovery.gov/.
The Bloomsburg Recycling Center replacement lighting project will replace existing metal halide high bay lights with linear fluorescent high bay lights throughout the recycling center. This will provide better area lighting and reduce the operating costs for electricity. The 59709 kwh of electricity reduction is valued at $2,986 and represents a 66.5% electrical energy reduction over the present lighting system.
Existing lighting systems in two buildings (Elwell Residence Hall & McCormick Building) at the University will be replaced with more energy efficient lighting systems. The existing 50 ton air-cooled chiller at Carver Hall and the existing 170 ton water cooled chiller at Scranton Commons will be replaced with one new 220 ton high efficiency water cooled magnetic compressor chiller.
Bloomsburg Univ's central system plant provides heat and hot water for the majority of buildings on campus and currently consists of 5 coal fired boilers and one gas boiler.
The project provides financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. Funds will be used for activities to address the jurisdiction’s homelessness needs such as: financial assistance with rental payments; security deposits; utility payments or deposits; arrearages; moving costs; and, motel/hotel vouchers; and housing relocation and stabilization services such as case management; outreach and engagement; housing search and placement; legal services; and credit repair.
The project consists of reconstruction of curbing and sidewalks at various intersections within Bloomsburg to remove architectural barriers to elderly and handicapped individuals.
The project consists of the reconstruction of the southern end of Park Street from North Street to the borough line. The reconstruction includes paving, sidewalks, curbs and stormwater conveyance.
Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant with the capacity to handle peak flows up to 12.5 million gallons per day. Wastewater treatment plant has been designed to comply with the Chesapeake Bay limitations for nitrogen and phosphorus. The population impacted by this project has a household median income far below the state median household income level. This is an existing system and user fees are not expected to increase.
Install and Upgrade signs in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties
* Totals reflect only funding flowing through state agencies.
Direct Benefits to Families
How PA Benefits
People Helped in Columbia County
Explanation of Benefits
Reporting as of
Food Assistance
7,010
The Recovery Act will help low income individuals and families with a 13.69% increase in the maximum Food Stamp (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP) benefit. It also suspends the 3 month limit on assistance for many unemployed childless adults.
March 2010
Health Insurance
9,931
Low income children and adults will continue to have access to health care through Medical Assistance.
March 2010
Health Insurance for Unemployed
3,300
The Recovery Act will help make health care available to individuals who are involuntarily separated from their jobs. A COBRA subsidy will pay 65 percent of the monthly premium for individuals earning less than $145,000 and couples earning less than $290,000.
March 2010
Taxpayer Relief
29,182
Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive a $400 tax credit in 2009 and 2010. Married couples filing jointly and earning up to $150,000 will receive a $800 tax credit.
October 2009
Unemployment Compensation
4,600
The Recovery Act will help these Pennsylvanians with a $25 per week increase in unemployment benefits through the rest of the year. It also provides additional weeks of benefits.
March 2010
All numbers are estimates, and will fluctuate over time.
The Stimulus Oversight Commission reviews, monitors and advises PA’s plans for stimulus spending to assure that citizens get the best from the program. Learn more.
Hotline
Concerned about suspected illegal or irresponsible actions regarding Recovery spending? Call 877-888-7927. Learn more.
Do you want to view Recovery project contracts?
Contracts awarded for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds by state agencies are posted online through the Pennsylvania Treasury’s office. Search for ARRA contracts.
