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Genesee County apparently tops list of per-person funding for stimulus money

By Howard B. Owens

Apparently, Genesee County is so far slated to get an out-sized portion of Federal stimulus funds.

From the Jamestown Post-Journal:

Last week, an Associated Press study found that stimulus dollars announced so far are not going where they are needed the most and that stimulus spending is 50 percent higher in counties with the lowest unemployment rates compared to counties with the highest even though it is meant to put people back to work.

That holds true across New York state, according to an analysis of AP's figures by The Post-Journal. According to the analysis, eight of the top 10 counties receiving the most stimulus money per person in New York state are not in the top 10 for unemployment.

At the top of the list is Genesee County, which stands to gain $5.5 million in stimulus funding approved so far, or $93.81 per person, even though it ranks 34 in unemployment with a rate of 8.9 percent. Next is Seneca County, which stands to gain $3.1 million, or $91.70 per person, even though it ties Genesee County with an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent.

Likewise, eight of the 10 counties with the highest unemployment rates are not in the top 10 for stimulus funding. At the very bottom is Lewis County, which stands to gain only $842,667, or $31.83 per person, with an unemployment rate of 11.9 percent. Next is Hamilton County, population 5,075, which has so far gotten nothing but has an unemployment rate of 11.8 percent.

I haven't been able to find the original AP story to double check the figures. 

According to this article, however, Genesee County wasn't included in any of the latest round of my released by Gov. Paterson.

daniel cherry

In my opinion,
If this county gets stimulus money.They should use it to find ways to save energy.To be energy efficient.Who pays the electric for street lights?How much does each one cost?We are far behind in energy efficiency.I like the idea of windmills for electricity.It will help our children in the future.I know we use the energy saving bulbs.They last a long time also.They pay for themselves.

May 19, 2009, 2:43pm Permalink

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