Site maps stimulus spending

The federal Recovery.gov Web site now offers new mapping features that provide an overview of economic stimulus law spending by state, federal department and recipient.

The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board on July 16 introduced a Web page on Recovery.gov with new and expanded mapping features. The maps show how much funding is being distributed to each state, how much funding is being provided to each state by each federal department, how the funding is flowing to individual contractors, and how many jobs are being created in the locations. A fourth map has links to state Web sites providing information on economic stimulus law spending.

Users can click on specific links for more detailed information. For example, for Kansas, one of the maps provides a list of all federal departments and their economic stimulus law funding to that state.

Under the $787 billion stimulus package, Congress authorized funding for thousands of programs being channeled through federal and state agencies. The money is paying for projects such as transportation and parks improvements, broadband development, alternative energy and education programs.

“In the coming months, you will see state-of-the art mapping technologies allowing for even better tracking of spending,” states a July 16 news release on Recovery.gov. “For now, use our enhanced State Map to track how much your state is receiving in stimulus funds. And take a look at our new Recipient Map detailing major awards to companies in your communities.”

On July 10, the recovery board announced it had awarded a contract valued at $18 million through 2014 to Smartronix, Inc. of Hollywood, Md. to design and enhance Recovery.gov.

The initial outlay of $9.5 million covers redesign and construction of a new Web site; installation of hardware and software infrastructure; hosting and operations; more robust data storage; an enhanced content-management system; and contract labor support and other features, according to the announcement.

Subcontractors include Synteractive Corp. of Washington, D.C.; TMP Government of McLean, Va.; and KPMG of New York.