ARRA Funds Tallied

Colorado has spent an estimated $214 million in federal stimulus funds since passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to the first in a series of reports from Gov. Bill Ritter.

The outlays include larger payments for Medicaid services, increased unemployment benefits to laid-off workers, and one-time $250 checks to Social Security recipients.

More than $1 billion is coming to the state from the stimulus program over the next four months, the report said.

Expenditures include $7 million in research grants to University of Colorado doctors and scientists, and $60 million for 30 drinking water and wastewater improvement projects.

"The recovery act has been supporting working families and individuals across Colorado to make ends meet during this difficult economic time," Ritter said in a statement. "Now we are seeing the launch of a wave of projects that will provide long-term benefits to the state. At the same time, my staff is helping to make sure a significant amount of funds is directed toward boosting our new energy economy."

The report indicates that Colorado expects to receive a total of $7 billion through the stimulus plan over the next two years, some of it in funding for programs and some of it in tax breaks.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER