toledoblade.com --

The $787 billion federal stimulus package signed into law last month injects a staggering amount of money into the economy, and some of it soon will come to a business near you.

But not every business that could benefit from the additional spending on infrastructure and energy projects will do so, and right now, many local companies are trying to come to grips with what the law will mean to them.

"Right now, the busiest group in our company as it relates to the stimulus package is our research staff," said Catherine Makicki, vice president of marketing for SSOE Inc., a Toledo engineering and architectural firm with 18 offices across the nation.

"We're paying close attention mostly as it relates to alternative energy, science and technology, and health care."

Ohio will receive an estimated $8.2 billion from the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and Michigan more than $7 billion. At toledoblade.com is a link to review proposed stimulus projects in Ohio.

Selection of the projects has yet to occur, but will include highway construction, sewer-system upgrades, home weatherization, and improved energy efficiency in public buildings.

Ohio and Michigan each estimate in excess of 100,000 jobs kept or created because of the federal spending. Many of the projects won't get rolling in earnest until the summer, and will proceed during the next two years at least.

"There's apparently a lot of money being handed out, and I hope we'll get our share. I just hope they're not passing it out alphabetically," said Jeff Zink, president of Zink/Covell Excavating Inc. in Monroe County's Bedford Township. "Almost every municipality around here has a request in for shovel-ready projects, and hopefully, we'll get some sewer and water projects." He said his small company has gone from 35 employees to just seven now because of the "brutal" economic conditions in his industry.

As the states prepare to green- light individual projects that have been submitted, those contractors that have existing relationships with municipalities and other public entities stand to capitalize on that familiarity.

"We're the construction manager on the current projects at the Toledo Zoo, so if they were successful [in landing stimulus funding for a proposed upgrade to their elephant and rhino exhibits], that would help us," Bill Bostleman, president of Bostleman Corp., said.

"The University of Toledo has a couple items in there, and the city does, and to the extent that any of those are approved, we have good relationships, and we'll take our shot at being the construction manager for those projects."

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:
lvellequette@theblade.com
or 419-724-6091.

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