Around the country, local governments are refining and
rethinking the lists of projects they put together late last year—their plans
and wish lists for spending their share of the stimulus package funds. The US
Conference of Mayors urged cities to compile their lists last year to show that
there were plenty of shovel-ready projects, and cities came up with almost
19,000 of them.
But while those plans are taking
shape, it’s also good to note that some projects are ongoing without money from
the stimulus package—in fact, without much money at all. Volunteer work is still
going strong in many parts of the country. For example, in the small town of
Tracyton, Washington, students, scouts, and nonprofit groups are helping with
the Barker Creek restoration project
,
planting vegetation to prevent erosion and enhance salmon habitat. While grants
have paid for some of the work, such as a replacement of a culvert,
well-organized and dedicated volunteers have supplied much of the labor. A
member of one nonprofit group notes that each hour of volunteer labor counts as
a $16 in-kind contribution toward the local match for federal and state grants.
Is there a strong volunteer
workforce in your area? Who organizes the work for such projects?