Charlotte's stimulus list: $422 million

The City of Charlotte has sent the U.S. Conference of Mayors a list of projects it believes is eligible for inclusion in a federal economic stimulus program -- and it includes projects totalling nearly $422 million and involving as many as 3,610 jobs if all projects were funded.

The list -- part of a MainStreet Economic Recovery Survey on INfrastructure Job Potential -- is among many others available here at the Web site of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It includes such items as $110 million for extension of the LYNX transit system's Blue Line -- which might involve 1,100 jobs -- and $13 million for widening of "NC29/US49" -- involving 130 jobs. There's also $22 million on the list for the Fred D. Alexander Boulevard, involving 220 jobs, and $30 million for bus purchases, which the list says would mean 300 jobs.

It's an impressive list -- one of many hundreds that local and state governments are forwarding to Washington in hopes of funding for a proposed stimulus package. It's worth noting, as Julie White of the N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition notes, that "The Governor-elect (Perdue) indicated today that the State may have a willingness to consider passing some money through to cities if it only flows to the State."

That's a concern to local governments who fear that much of the money will wind up in state hands.

"Coalition Mayors are organizing around this effort. They have established a committee with Mayor Pro Temp Julie Robison of Cary and Mayor David Combs of
Rocky Mount as chairs to spearhead our efforts to ensure some portion of the
economic stimulus package goes directly to MPOs and cities….We are asking the Metro Coalition cities to pass a resolution (or write a letter of support) and plan to present them in total to our federal and state leaders as well as send them to the Obama transition team," White says.