Millville Housing Authority

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Local chance to stimulate the economy

The Daily Journal
April 6, 2009

State and local officials will play a major role in determining the economic success of the multibillion-dollar stimulus package as final decisions are made on how and where to spend the funds.

A case in point is the Millville Housing Authority, which was awarded $720,675 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Barack Obama pushed for and signed into law last month.

So far, the spending approach the agency is taking is a sound one. The authority's executive director, Paul Dice, said the money would be drawn from a separate account to pay for projects to improve its existing buildings and to upgrade equipment.

We also like the idea of the authority reviewing its annual and long-range plans and holding public hearings to get residents' opinions on where to spend the money. After all, it is taxpayers' money.

During the next three years, the time frame within which the authority must use or lose the money, local businesses will have an opportunity to bid on the projects. That would provide local roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling contractors a chance to retain current employees and perhaps enable them to expand and hire new workers. That would benefit everyone, because contractors purchase local goods and their employees shop at local retailers, eat at restaurants and can continue to pay their mortgages and taxes as the money ripples through the local economy.

We don't know if the $787 billion stimulus package will meet all of its intended economic goals, but we believe the effort had to be made. The country couldn't afford to sit back and do nothing and risk the economy falling into a depression.

Now it's up to state and local officials and the public to step up and do their part to ensure their share of the money is spent most effectively and efficiently to boost the economy.

	Press Release About Us > News & Press Releases > Press Release Local chance to stimulate the economy The Daily Journal April 6, 2009 State and local officials will play a major role in determining the economic success of the multibillion-dollar stimulus package as final decisions are made on how and where to spend the funds. A case in point is the Millville Housing Authority, which was awarded $720,675 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Barack Obama pushed for and signed into law last month. So far, the spending approach the agency is taking is a sound one. The authority's executive director, Paul Dice, said the money would be drawn from a separate account to pay for projects to improve its existing buildings and to upgrade equipment. We also like the idea of the authority reviewing its annual and long-range plans and holding public hearings to get residents' opinions on where to spend the money. After all, it is taxpayers' money. During the next three years, the time frame within which the authority must use or lose the money, local businesses will have an opportunity to bid on the projects. That would provide local roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling contractors a chance to retain current employees and perhaps enable them to expand and hire new workers. That would benefit everyone, because contractors purchase local goods and their employees shop at local retailers, eat at restaurants and can continue to pay their mortgages and taxes as the money ripples through the local economy. We don't know if the $787 billion stimulus package will meet all of its intended economic goals, but we believe the effort had to be made. The country couldn't afford to sit back and do nothing and risk the economy falling into a depression. Now it's up to state and local officials and the public to step up and do their part to ensure their share of the money is spent most effectively and efficiently to boost the economy.