Several Connecticut construction jobs will soon be created thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The jobs and funding also will help provide clean drinking water to state residents.
The State of Connecticut has received almost $20 million in federal economic stimulus money for state and municipal projects that will improve drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency issued $19.5 million to the Connecticut Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $485,000 to the state’s Water Quality Management and Planning Program.
According to an article by the Hartford Business Journal Online, the State Department of Health said the money will be distributed as grants and low-interest loans to public water systems and construction-ready projects for treating and delivering drinking water.
“This money will help ensure our residents have clean, safe drinking water while protecting and creating jobs in our state,” Sen. Joe Lieberman said in the article.
With any luck the added jobs will help Connecticut’s failing construction industry. The state’s construction industry employed 52,100 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 53,200 workers during March and a 22.4 percent decrease from last year.
Connecticut’s construction industry has declined drastically every month for the last six months. The industry decreased by 12 percent in November 2008, 14.8 percent in December 2008, 17.1 percent in January, 19.7 percent in February, 21.9 percent in March and 22.4 percent in April.
Overall, the State of Connecticut employed 1,640,400 workers during April, down from 1,652,200 workers during March and a 3.8 percent decrease from last year. During April, the state saw its unemployment rate increase from 7.5 percent to 7.9 percent.
By: Jen Carpenter
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