July 2, 2009

Just as in Canada, U.S. industry anxious to see stimulus roll

BOSTON

U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed hope that the spending of federal stimulus money can be speeded up — and a lot of Massachusetts construction-industry folks couldn’t agree more.

“It’s taking a little longer than expected,” John Fish, president of Suffolk Construction, said of the distribution of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money.

“Everyone’s talking, talking, talking — and there are no boots on the ground,” said Mike DeMeo, vice president of Georgetown’s Stilian Electric and vice president at the Massachusetts Electrical Contractors Association.

“We’re just waiting and watching,” said Jim Coyle, general agent for the Boston Building Trades Council.

Most observers blamed the problem on federal stipulations and a slow federal process for releasing money.

Some funds have already found their way toward “shovel ready” Massachusetts road projects.

The state reported this week that it has advertised for 29 road projects and already given the green light to at least 18 of them, totaling US $121.2 million.

Colin Durrant, a spokesman for the state’s highway department, said the state is on track to exceed the federal goal of committing more than US$153 million by the end of this month.

But that’s less than half of the US$437.9 million the state expects to get for transportation-related projects. The figure does not include billions more earmarked for Massachusetts for tax cuts, health care, scientific research and other programs.

The state said it’s moving as fast as allowed to spend the rest of the highway money on “Phase 2” projects, which include funds to kick-start high-profile private sector projects.

Associated Press

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