How are the States using Recovery Funding?

Governor Patrick of Massachusetts has announced $300 million in safety net expansions (such as food stamps and elder food programs), $30 million in transportation projects, $200 million to school districts for special education and $162 million to public colleges to avoid layoffs and offset student fee increases.

The announcements were made under the new plan, "Massachusetts Works", with the following three goals:

Deliver Immediate Relief:
• Road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today
• Services such as unemployment insurance and health care that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during a crisis

Invest in a Better Tomorrow:
• Education and infrastructure investments to position us for a better tomorrow
• Clean energy, broadband, and technology investments to cut costs and grow the economy
• Preparing workers for the jobs of tomorrow in growth and innovation industries

Reform State Government:
• Eliminate Pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government
• Revitalize transportation systems that have suffered from a pattern of neglect and avoidance