Recovery Dollars Putting People to Work in Tampa Bay

Muqit Usama, the owner of Usama Specialty Finishes, Inc. and Tony Powell, recently hired by Gibraltar Construction, know firsthand about the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) as they symbolize how these funds are creating jobs in Tampa Bay.

Usama received a contract to do work with the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) and spoke about how these funds helped save his business on the first anniversary of the ARRA (Recovery Act) during a ceremony at the THA‘s J. L. Young Gardens Complex. Usama was also able to hire several public housing residents to work with his company. Gibraltar Construction who hired Tony Powell also recently received recovery dollars too. Powell talked about his gratitude for his newly found employment.

Jerome Ryans, CEO; Tampa Housing Authority Rubin Padgett, Commissioner; THA Linda Saul-Sena Tampa City Councilwoman; Congresswoman Kathy Castor, FL-11; Digna Alvarez, Regional Director, Senator Bill Nelson's Office; Gwen Miller, Vice-Chairman and Councilwoman Tampa City Council; Deputy Secretary Ron Sims; Councilman John Dingfelder; Mr. Ed Jennings, Regional Director Designee, Region IV; Karen Jackson Sims, FOD, Tampa Field Office, Acting DRD; Cindy Miller, Director Neighborhood Services; City of Tampa Betty Reid, State Representative, District 59

"Investing in housing is a winning proposition. We are making sure our Tampa Bay region residents have safe, affordable places to live while creating jobs at our housing complexes at the same time. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we kept teachers in our classrooms, put people to work at our airport, and are building new community health centers. The Recovery Act is truly making a difference in our community. We are creating jobs every day" said Congresswoman Castor.

Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Tampa Councilwoman and Vice- Chair Gwen Miller joined HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims at the event that highlighted the thousands of jobs that will be created or saved in this community due to the influx of Recovery funds. The Tampa Bay Area received over $150 million in funding from HUD.

While visiting the complex, Deputy Secretary Sims talked with workers hired with Recovery funds received by THA to renovate units at the complex. He also toured one of the renovated units. He reflected on this in his speech, "And you can see that breath of new life for yourself right here at J. L. Young Gardens - where thanks to the Recovery Act, HUD has been able to invest $6.5 million in helping the Tampa Housing Authority to make critical infrastructure improvements to this elderly public housing complex." He also spoke about how HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.

Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, Tampa FOD, Acting Region IV Deputy Regional Director Karen Jackson-Sims and Jerome Ryans, President and CEO of the Tampa Housing Authority

This day was even more eventful because prior to the Deputy Secretary's speech, THA had its first job fair for Encore. Encore is a project supported by $38 million dollar Recovery Act funds received from HUD through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) 2 funding. Approximately, $28 million will be used to build infrastructure and $10 million will be used to redevelop foreclosed properties. THA formed a consortium with the City of Tampa and Bank of America Community Development Corporation to secure NSP 2 funds.

Jerome Ryans, President and CEO of THA said that the Encore project is expected to create thousands of jobs. The plans for this project include the development of 667 affordable and public housing rental units and more than 856 market-rate condominiums. Additional plans call for the recruitment of private investors to build a grocery store and hotel for the 143-acre site. The grant will pay for the purchase and rehabilitation of more than 120 vacant or foreclosed residential properties in the area. There will also be an opportunity to help provide down-payment assistance to help families purchase these homes.

Tony Powell, Muqit Usama, and Congresswoman Kathy Castor

"When we see first time buyers receiving support and education to make wise home buying decisions, when we see our senior citizens living in decent, safe and affordable housing, when we see new infrastructure under construction and when we see small businesses still working, keeping their employees and providing new jobs for others, we know that the Recovery Act is not only putting Tampa Bay to work, but the Recovery Act is working for Tampa Bay" stated Mayor Pam Iorio.

President Barack Obama signed the Recovery Act on February 17, 2009 to respond to the economic crisis. The goals of the funding were to create new jobs, as well as save existing ones; spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth; foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending. The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD.

THA and the City of Tampa are indeed putting people to work in Tampa Bay with Recovery dollars.

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