The stimulus has provided the Hub with $309 million for current and future projects and will help the city generate nearly $460 million to the regional economy, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced Wednesday, the one year anniversary of the stimulus.
Over the next four years, the stimulus will also create 1,200 full-time equivalent jobs and more than 1,500 additional "spinoff" jobs, according to the mayor.
Menino outlined the benefits of the recovery act around Boston:
• $10 million for the ongoing $31 million renovation of the Washington Beech housing complex in Roslindale, providing 109 full time equivalent jobs;
• $1.86 million for the job training of 234 out-of-work adults in the computerized office support, health care services and commercial driving;
• $1.075 million to stabilize more than 20 small businesses through capital improvements and short term rental assistance;
• $32.25 million for Boston Public Schools programming, providing 215 total full time jobs, including $15.6 million to save the jobs of 180 teachers, $5.5 million for improved and expanded literacy instruction, $4.2 million for programming to close access gaps for English Language Learners (ELL), $1 million for assistive technology equipment and software for students with autism;
• $11.8 million for the retention of 50 police officers over four years and $1.29 million for 9 crime analysts in the Boston Regional Intelligence Center – Boston’s crime rate is the lowest it has been in 40 years;
• $2.54 million for 880 youth summer jobs last summer, 70 older youth transitional jobs and 350 youth summer jobs for this summer.
"With this funding Boston has continued to move forward despite a very tough economic climate," said Menino. "We have kept police officers on the streets and reduced violent crime by nearly 40 percent. We have kept teachers in the classroom and expanded ELL, literacy and autism programming. We have placed Boston youth in critical summer jobs, keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. This is what we have done but this is only the beginning – there is so much more that we must do."
There are several projects on deck, including $22 million in funding for the $40 million Phase 1 redevelopment of the Boston Housing Authority’s (BHA) Old Colony public housing complex in South Boston. The project will create 136 full time jobs, according to a statement.
The city is also expecting to receive $10 million for more than 600 bathroom upgrades at the BHA’s two oldest family developments the Charlestown and the Mary Ellen McCormack in South Boston creating 33 full time jobs. Another $11 million will be used to create a model green public housing renovation at the Cathedral Development in the South End requiring 37 full time workers.
