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The state of Ohio was given 8.2 Billion in Federal Stimulus money and has launched a website to take requests. There have been thousands of submissions so far. Of course, many of the requests are for roads and bridges - construction and repairs. Some of the other requests included Broadband Internet services, counties requesting equipment like computers and copiers and kitchen/office remodels, and small businesses requesting money to launch their business plans or expand on their current business. Here are a few of the non road/sewer related projects being requested in Franklin County:
$150,000 to provide 3 jobs to make repairs to the Santa Maria. It needs caulking, woodwork, mooring and other repairs.
$30,000,000 and 6,000 jobs to demolish the Delphi and Westland Mall sites to help redevelop Columbus’ Western Gateway.
$18,000,000 and 360 jobs to build a new animal shelter. The land has already been bought and the project is in the design phase.
$500,000 and 3 jobs for Central Ohio Bicycle Coalition to do a spring event called Bicycle Mode Shift to promote using bicycles as a mode of transportation.
$11,700,000 and 500 jobs for Port Columbus to relocate a runway.
$10,000,000 and 100 jobs for Columbus Public Health to expand on their Healthy Homes, Healthy Ohioans Program.
$6,000,000 and 172.2 jobs for ODOT to put noise barrier walls along I-71.
If you’d like to take a look at the submitted requests, here is a link. Just because a project is listed, does not mean it will be funded. Do you have a project to submit? Do it here.
The bottom line is that it does not cost 500K to get people on bikes.
Moreover, in these tough economic times we need to rely on heroic support of our volunteers to bridge staffing gaps.
We need to get creative with generating opportunities to engage new cyclists- that is, bottom up events and opportunities for community contribution.
And any stimulus funds toward any project- cycling or not- need to do the following:
- be a long term strategic investment
- should demonstrate fiscal acuity and communicate to the tax payers who are footing the bill that we “get it” and that their money is being invested wisely. Funding a bikestravaganza with ANY stimulus funds is not wise. Bike facilities, maybe, but lumping this in with anything that could be perceived as trivial is a huge blunder.
- a willingness to use existing services, tools, and talents to create a climate where organizations- chiefly those are recipients of federal funds- are not simply asking for a handout, but who are contributing real value and substance to a solution. That is- give more than you take.
Pencil, paper, and some personality can get you amazing results in a corporate, year round commuter challenge. As it happens, some smart and creative people can build a web site to replace the pencil and paper (I am doing that in my free time right now for the Bike To Work Week effort under my involvement in Yay Bikes!)
It is clear that the real purpose behind this request is opportunism fueled by a lack of plan for the sustainability of the group requesting the staggering half a million dollars. I would hate to see reckless requests like this compromise the ability to fund the Share The Road campaign that the Mayor’s office and others have worked so hard on, but people could see requests like this and back-burner all cycling related requests as frivolous.
I’m willing to converse on other aspects of the requests mentioned. This one hits close to my heart.
Here is my more detailed take on giving the 500k to COTA to create a “Bike Express”.
From Ann Fisher’s column on Friday:
My wife and I are looking to open a restaurant. We plan to open it in the inner city section of Columbus, Ohio. This would be a big lift for several low-income families, including my wife and I who both unfortunately were part of the many who lost our job due to the company we worked for closing.
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That’s the one that caught my eye. A business start up program would not be a bad use of some of the funds. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to simply toss out the cash, no repayment necessary.
Excellent work, Teeter.
Stimulus bounty carries a cost
Sunday, May 10, 2009 3:33 AM
By Doug Caruso and Jennifer Smith Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Millions of federal stimulus dollars on their way to central Ohio won’t come free. Recipients are expected to pay administrative costs and fulfill strict reporting requirements designed to prevent fraud and waste.
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