Stimulus Funds Coming, Lee Assures East Bay

By Josh Richman  |  Oakland Tribune
February 19, 2009

Help is on the way for East Bay school districts, local governments and small businesses through the economic recovery act that President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday, Rep. Barbara Lee said Wednesday.

Exactly how and when this help will arrive remains to be seen, she acknowledged.

The White House estimates the $787 billion stimulus package will create or save 369,000 California jobs over the next two years. Lee, D-Oakland, said an estimated 7,300 of those would be in her 9th Congressional District, which includes Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont, Castro Valley and various adjoining areas.

Lee also said about 2.4 million Californians will get $100 more per month in unemployment benefits, and about 506,000 laid-off workers will see their benefits extended. And the Golden State stands to reap millions — $30 million for Oakland alone — to modernize its dilapidated public schools, she added.

But now that the enormous, complex bill has been signed into law, it'll take federal agencies a while to work out how to get the money out. Some of the money — for things like Medicaid reimbursements, state fiscal stabilization funds and highway infrastructure spending — is apportioned by formula; some requires agencies and organizations to compete for grants; and some flows out through various federal and state agencies.

Flanking Lee at her news conference Wednesday inthe Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building's atrium were members of her Minority Business Advisory Committee, with whom she'd just met in private to discuss their options under the stimulus plan.

Mark Quinn, district director of the Small Business Administration, was there too, and said the plan will help his agency loosen the bank credit that is the lifeblood of small businesses.

Lee said she'll be holding similar meetings in coming weeks with school districts, local governments and other entities in her district as the stimulus package's funding avenues become clearer.

"We'll just have to track it and stay on top of it," she said