The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as ARRA or the stimulus package,
was enacted by Congress in February 2009.
It’s a rare opportunity to jumpstart our economy, and create many jobs, while addressing
some of our nation’s most critical needs. The economic downturn has hurt people all
across the country.
Some of the hardest hit communities are located near urban and rural National Forests, including
many in California. Here in the Pacific Southwest Region of the USDA Forest Service we are doing
our part to help with the economic recovery.
Using funding from the ARRA, we’ve created hundreds of jobs. Not only have we put people
to work, we’ve been able to tackle a backlog of projects on California’s National Forests.
The ARRA is been a useful way for the Forest Service to get good projects done that we’ve,
we’ve had identified the needs for, for a lot of them a number of years now, but we
may have not had the funding sources to, to actually execute the project and perform the
work.
ARRA funding does not specifically go to the Forest Service or our employees. The money
is intended for those who need employment, and for the completion of necessary projects.
Funds have been available for the C’s to come out here and rehabilitate our trails
and remove some hazardous fuels and trees. A lot of the buildings have been here for
a really long time and they want to keep them intact.
It’s part of a project to re-roof three of our buildings. Out here we’ve just been
trying to get these um, campsites nice and clean.
There is so much that is needed to be done, not only on this forest, but on other forests.
These ARRA funded projects include watershed restoration and stream improvements; the removal
of non-native species and hazardous trees; fuel reduction around homes; mine reclamation;
road maintenance, repair or de-commissioning; and the building or restoration of facilities,
bridges, trails and historic structures.
These activities help sustain the health, diversity and productivity of our forests
while providing better opportunities for the public
The Forest Service has always risen to the challenges of the day. During the Great Depression,
we were actively involved with the Civilian Conservation Corps, employing thousands of
people on projects and building efforts, many of which are still in use today. Now, the
Forest Service is stepping up one again with new efforts.
Besides providing jobs and tackling projects, there are additional economic benefits resulting
from our recovery work.
All the money that’s coming in, is going to stay in our local economy.
And it will help like, so that I can get a job and then I can help pay for other stuff
and taxes and it just, I just think it keeps the cycle going.
In some cases we are offering job training and opportunities for people to explore career
options, including those in the field of conservation work. Both Job Corps and the California Conservation
Corps provide unemployed youth with training, education, scholarship money and the benefits
of hard work.
The work is very hard; it’s pretty hard but it’s very rewarding
The work has been different. I like it. You know, me coming in, you know this is something
that I never thought I’d be doing.
I want to get my high school diploma. And, you know, I like to work outdoors so this
was a like a good opportunity for me.
I don’t know, it’s given us a chance to like be out in the real world and work, and
then its, we’re also giving back to the Forest Service.
Besides the fact that I’m getting back in shape, I am you know really proud of myself
that I can come out here with you know, ten other guys. And, I may not be able to cut
trees just like they do, but I’m pulling ‘em.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a unique opportunity for the country and
The Forest Service. It’s helping everybody because like I say, without that we would
all be at home. If we don’t work, we don’t get checks
Got me off unemployment, along with the rest of these guys.
It’s good to be back to work
We are committed to do all we can to help employ people, stimulate local economies,
provide training opportunities, all while fulfilling the Forest Service’s mission
of caring for the land and serving people.