Banking on the Stimulus Bill

The highway component of the proposed federal stimulus legislation could create more than 14,000 jobs in West Virginia, according to estimates presented to lawmakers and reported by The Associated Press.

The figure "includes 3,840 jobs that would come directly from hiring for road and bridge projects," and is based on a formula of "16 direct jobs for every $1 million received," the article said. The state's share of highway funding has been estimated at $240 million, out of an overall stimulus slice of $1.1 billion.

The $240 million would cover just a fraction of the $970 million worth of road and bridge projects that Gov. Joe Manchin identified last month. But state highway officials said any of the 139 projects on the list could launch within 180 days of receiving stimulus funds, with most ready to roll within 90 days.

The Register-Herald of Beckley also reports on the jobs estimate, while MetroNews has an item on the funding (and audio).

The Intelligencer of Wheeling, meanwhile, focuses on a different slice of the stimulus pie.

"The West Virginia School Building Authority will deny about two-thirds of the funding requests it received this year unless federal economic stimulus dollars make their way to the agency's coffers," that article said.