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Hernando Today

Where The Stimulus Package Jobs Are

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: February 14, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Realizing there are millions of communities nationwide firing off capital improvement wish lists to Washington, D.C., in hopes of getting President Barack Obama's stimulus money, county commissioners have decided to find out which of their projects would create the most jobs.

The county earlier identified 10 projects, ranging from road widening to wastewater treatment plants.

And with so much competition for dollars, Hernando County will be fortunate to get even one project funded, County Commission Chairman David Russell said.

To that end, county staff created a "jobs creation" list showing how Hernando County could get the most bang for the buck.

Commissioners plan to address the stimulus package at their Feb. 24 meeting when they hope to have more information from the federal government about the criteria for the economic stimulus plan.

To prioritize the list now would be a "shot in the dark," Russell said.

Here's a look at the top 10 list, the cost of each project and an estimate of how many temporary construction jobs and permanent jobs would be created:

•The Glen Wastewater Treatment Plant ($20 million) - 250 temporary jobs, 2 permanent jobs

•Hexam Water Treatment Plant ($2.8 million) - 50 temporary jobs, 0 permanent jobs

•Hexam Waste Treatment Plant Transmission System ($4 million) - 50 temporary jobs, 0 permanent jobs

•Judicial Complex ($50 million) - 665 temporary jobs, undetermined permanent jobs

•Sunshine Grove Road Improvements (encompassing State Road 50 to Ken Austin Parkway) ($8 million) - 80 temporary jobs, undetermined permanent jobs

•South Brooksville improvements ($2 million) - 10 temporary jobs, zero permanent jobs

•Southwest Airport Industrial Park ($5.7 million) - 15 temporary jobs, 1,500 permanent jobs

•Deltona Boulevard reconstruction (Spring Hill Drive to Forest Oaks) ($16.5 million) - 165 temporary jobs, undetermined permanent jobs

•County Line Road ($20 million) - 200 temporary jobs, undetermined permanent jobs

Limerock roads improvement ($1.5 million) - 15 temporary jobs, zero permanent jobs

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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