RI officially accepts stimulus money

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island Gov. Donald L. Carcieri officially accepted an estimated $1.1 billion dollars in federal stimulus money Thursday afternoon.

During a State House ceremony, he signed formal letters agreeing to the funding provided to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The ARRA requires state governors to certify their state's will use the money to create jobs and spur economic development.

Carcieri said the stimulus money is very important to Rhode Island, which is dealing with a $357 million budget gap and 10 percent unemployment rate.

“I pledge to work with the General Assembly, our congressional delegation, and our cities and towns to identify and agree upon projects quickly, to maximize the federal stimulus dollars available to Rhode Island, and to get our economy moving again,” Carcieri said.

During a Thursday morning appearance on The Rhode Show on Fox Providence, Carcieri said the first people who will feel the effects of the stimulus plan are the unemployed.

"We will be moving immediately on the unemployment piece, because a lot of Rhode Islanders are hurting right now," Carcieri said.

Another major component is the funds that will be spent on transportation and construction projects in the state.

Some of the stimulus funding will be included in the budget proposal Carcieri plan to submit to lawmakers on March 10.