Bridge Replacements Improve Safety, Boost Economy

The National Forests in Mississippi is in the process of replacing 21 road bridges across the state’s six national forests using $4,800,000 provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). While forest visitors and staff are national forest roads’ primary users, many roads are vital links in local transportation systems; emergency vehicles, school buses, and mail trucks as well as local residents are frequent travelers. Mississippi engineering firms are designing the bridges, and Mississippi contractors will install them.  In addition, Mississippi companies are making the concrete bridge components. Forest Supervisor Gretta Boley said, “The ripple effect created by the expenditure of these funds is providing a much needed boost to the state’s construction sector during this difficult economic period.  This was exactly the intent of President Obama’s stimulus package legislation.” “This contract employs two bridge crews and pays their salaries for one year,” said President Hunter Fordice of Fordice Construction, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi. “Taxpayers also get new bridges out of the deal. To me this is real economic stimulus because it supports jobs and provides safer transportation for the public.” “Fordice Construction Company buys materials from vendors and suppliers, so money is being turned over time and time again,” said Fordice. “The money spent to build these bridges changes hand from the government to contractors to sub-contractors and to vendors.” The bridges are being replaced using a Mississippi Department of Transportation Office of State Aid Road Construction system that utilizes precast concrete bridge components made off-site and transported to the construction sites for installation.  The results are very strong, reliable bridges with expected lifespans of 50 to 70 years that can be installed in a short period of time, minimizing traffic impact. The bridges can also be built for a relatively low cost compared to similar bridges. The replacement of these bridges will help ensure the continued viability of the forests’ transportation systems for years to come.

 

 

Permalink  |  Posted: 03:20PM Apr 15, 2010 by Gwen Ernstulrich in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

Feeding the hungry

Thanks to the President and Congress, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 included $20 billion in additional funding to provide food to those most in need. It also provides infrastructure support to the National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations – to make them even stronger. We know there are people in every community who face hunger and need help. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service oversees 15 nutrition assistance programs that form a national safety net against hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, is our largest nutrition program serving more than 33 million people each month, half of whom are children. In April 2009, SNAP helped 498,956 people in Mississippi put more healthy food on the table, reaching 13.6 percent more people than the previous year. The beauty of the program is that it expands and contracts based on economic conditions. ARRA money provides participating SNAP families of four, for instance, an additional $80 each month to purchase nutritious food. Helping the hungry in our communities not only provides needed assistance, but helps all of us by stimulating local economies. Every $5 in new SNAP benefits generates over $9 in total economic activity – both within local communities and well beyond. The diets of low-income Americans are improved every day because of nutrition assistance programs. If you know someone in need, please have them call the SNAP toll-free number, 1-800-221-5689 or visit www.fns.usda.gov. Together, we can work toward the President’s mandate to end childhood hunger by 2015 and improve the lives of our youngest Americans.

Permalink  |  Posted: 09:33AM Jul 31, 2009 by Jean Daniel in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

Tell Us Your Story

USDA is implementing the $28 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). This Funding will help jumpstart the Nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. Our efforts will help modernize our nation's infrastructure, revitalize rural communities, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. Give us your feedback and tell us how the Recovery Act is helping in your local communities.

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Permalink  |  Posted: 09:21AM May 01, 2009 by NITC Blog Admin in USDA Recovery Act  |  Add Your Comment Here [4]

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Permalink  |  Posted: 05:03PM Apr 02, 2009 by Andy Campbell in USDA Web Site  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]