Texas scheduled to get billions for technology, construction - bizjournals:

oc697vot.blogspot.com
Construction companies and technology firms shouls already be tracking upcoming projectzof interest. The funding will flow to local communitieds through a varietyof sources, including stimulus local bond initiatives, disaster recovery programs and non-stimuluxs grants. The influx of dollars will result in thousandds of opportunities to buildnew facilities, renovatw and modernize existing buildings, upgrade and enhance existinv technology and provide infrastructure improvements.
New and newly renovatex facilities will also requireupgraded security, furniture, fixtures and Despite all the talk surrounding the Americaj Recovery and Reinvestment Act, most of the fundz have not yet started A recent report stated that less than 6 percentf of the total funding has been releasec by the federal government. Watch for Texas schoopl districts to receive larger chunks ofthe funding. Some school districts already have authorization tobegin spending, but most of the activity is still a month or so This summer, the Texas Education Agencty will open an application period for the $4 billio n State Fiscal Stabilization Fund — one of the largest federalo stimulus programs.
The stabilization fund is wrapped aroun grant programs and the money can be used by districtsx for a variety of purposes such as the modernizingt ofschool facilities, upgrading technology infrastructure, purchasinh technology products, building science buying education equipment and redesigning high schoola for more efficiency and studenf success. In the fall, an additional $60 millioj will be made available to Texas schoop districts through a funding source known asthe Ed-Tech grany program. This program funds the purchase of technology to improvestudent achievement. Districts may also use the funds to buy technologyg to help withthe collection, management and analysisw of student data.
The Texas Water Development Boar will get a large share of thestimulus funding. Because of that, the agenct has received $10.7 billion in funding requestw for clean water and drinking watedrinfrastructure projects. Eligible applicants will be notified of theirt allocations in June and July and entitiees should begin advertising for bids on the construction projectaby September. Texas was appropriated abouft $2.6 billion in stimulus funds for transportation Some bidding processes havealreadyy begun, but the process will be rampin up for months. Although details are still the ARRA also provides fundintg for improving broadband in rural andurban areas.
Depending on how the moneyg is allocatedin Texas, there is a potentiakl for billions of dollars to flow to loca l communities. And, in spite of the weak Texas voters approved morethan $1.3 billiom in local bond elections on May 9. The approver funding will finance capital improvement projectxs such as new andrenovatedr facilities, technology, large equipmenyt purchases and improved infrastructure such as parks and • College Station Independenft School District: $144 million for a new high school new elementary school campus, new transportationn facility, renovations to the existinbg high school and the purchase of • Carroll Independent School $138 million for new schools, expansion of existin g schools and an overhaul of technologt infrastructure.
• City of Plano: $128.65 million for capital improvement program projects for public safety, libraries, park improvements, recreation center improvements, street improvements and a technologyy service facility. • Allen Independent School District: $119.4 millionb for a new athleticd stadium, high school transportation maintenance and studentnutrition • Midland County Hospital $115 million for facility improvements to Midland Memorial Hospitalp including a new patient tower with 240-plusa beds, expanded emergency facilitieas and more telemetry beds. Even more funding will make its way to Texads in the formof non-stimulus granta to school districts.
A bill approved earlier this month bythe U.S. Housd of Representatives would provide Texae school districts withabout $600 million to modernizes schools and improve energy efficiency. In the bill includes $600 million in separate funds for public schools damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and The programs discussed here represent only a few of the sourcees of federalstimulus funding. There are many othe r programs that will provide fundint for airportimprovement projects, port security, transitr programs, improved security and more.
Government contractors shoule be loving life in Texasthese