Project Management Update from Omaha

Midwest US States Managing Stimulus Funds/Projects

"What we need to do is examine what are the projects, where we're going to get the most bang for the buck, how are we going to make sure taxpayers are protected,"
President Barack Obama, “Meet The Press“ Interview – December 7, 2008.

State governments throughout the USA have reached a major milestone with regard to the economic stimulus funds, appropriated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  In accordance with federal law, and in order for states to be eligible to receive additional funding, they must “obligate“ 50% of their alloted funds to specific projects by June 29, 2009.  States in the midwest USA are starting to see the impacts of these stimulus funds as their related projects are being implemented.  This first round of economic stimulus funds is dominated by projects within one of the largest and most visible agencies in state government:  Transportation.  The $150 billion in transportation funds from the ARRA represents the largest infusion of federal dollars into state transportation projects in over 50 years.

ARRA, the $789 billion package from the US federal government and signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, was intended to provide an immediate impact to the economies throughout the country through job creation.  To that end, the law came with strict guidelines to obligate (commit) federal funds to specific projects. One of the key requirements was that funds must be obligated in 120 days, which is June 30, 2009.  All projects must be completed by February 17, 2012.

This PMForum Regional Update will report specifically on ARRA stimulus transportation funding and projects in the Midwest USA.

Read Complete Regional Report >>

Ted Koval International Correspondent – USA Based in Omaha, Nebraska Ted Koval, PMP is an International Correspondent for PMForum and PM World Today in Nebraska, USA.  He is also an a Senior Business Project Manager for Mutual of Omaha, a Fortune 500 insurance and financial services company based in Omaha, Nebraska. Ted has 13+ years of experience as a Project Manager both in State government and in IS/IT project management in the United States.  Ted has managed campaigns and outreach for several Pennsylvania State Representatives, served as Director of the Policy Committee for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and was project manager for the first nationally recognized centralized voter registration system in the USA. Ted subsequently became project manager and Director of PM for the largest provider of enterprise class voter registration and election systems in the United States. Ted Koval can be contacted at takoval@cox.net. For more information visit http://www.pmforum.org/pm%20forum%20team/index.htm.

Back to Table of Contents