How you can be a stimulus watchdog

Anyone with Internet access can track stimulus spending by state, county and neighborhood using the Obama administration's stimulus Web site at Recovery.gov. By clicking on Map Central, a link under What's New at the middle of the page, you can upload a searchable "blue" map of all stimulus awards as reported by the agencies and organizations benefitting from the awards.

You can also upload a searchable "gold" map in which all data comes from the federal agencies disbursing the money. The maps can be searched by state, county, congressional district or ZIP code. For example, plugging Munster ZIP code 46321 into the search bar generates a map with 12 blue dots from Lansing to Griffith. Clicking on a blue spot on Ridge Road in Munster brings up information showing that South Shore Arts Inc. is the prime recipient of a $50,000 grant that will create or save 1.73 jobs. It also includes the information that "preserving jobs in the nonprofit arts sector" is the award's primary purpose. Clicking on a blue dot on 173rd Street in Hammond shows the Hammond Housing Authority is receiving $10 million and also includes detailed information on how the money is being used to rehabilitate the Columbia Center Housing project.

For a quicker search, plug a ZIP code directly into a search bar on the home page just below the big blue map at the top of the page.
Marisa Kwiatkowski, Times of Northwest Indiana

HealthLinc's "miracle" came not a moment too soon, CEO Beth Wrobel said.

The nonprofit organization, which operates community health centers in Valparaiso, Michigan City and Knox, struggled to accommodate a 50 percent increase in patients between 2008 and 2009.

Its savior came in the form of $735,904 in stimulus funds, Wrobel said. HealthLinc used the money to hire another pediatrician and several behavioral health consultants -- and to increase its number of exam rooms in Michigan City.

"Not only is it a lifesaver for HealthLinc, it's a lifesaver for patients," she said. "I don't know what we would've done if we didn't have that money."

HealthLinc was one of at least 25 private agencies in Lake and Porter counties to receive stimulus cash in 2009, according to federal data. The federal government funneled at least $21.5 million in stimulus money to region nonprofits and private businesses last year, a Times analysis of data from the federal government's Recovery.gov Web site shows.

Last Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law Feb. 17, 2009.

Another $4.26 million came to local businesses via contracts from local housing authorities or municipalities.

Several region nonprofits and businesses praised stimulus funding for its impact on their operations. But some worried what will happen when those federal dollars no longer flow.

Most of the money funneled to Lake and Porter counties' private agencies was spent on health care, housing, education and social programming for families in need, The Times found. Some private businesses said the funds provided a needed boost to their bottom lines.

Contracts with the Hammond and East Chicago housing authorities saved six Precision Builders' employees from potentially getting laid off, company Vice President Melanie Morgan said. It also helped Precision Builders' subcontractors and material suppliers.

Precision Builders received about $1.27 million in stimulus funding for work on public housing complexes, data show. The Gary-based company was contracted for kitchen upgrades and new entry doors in Hammond and new roofs for public housing buildings in East Chicago, Morgan said.

"It's allowed us to keep more guys employed, which is good right now," she said. "If we hadn't received those contracts, we would've been scrambling, looking for more work to do."

An abundance of work has never been the problem for Geminus Head Start, the second-largest Head Start provider in Indiana. It offers preschool and social service programs for families in Lake and Porter counties.

The not-for-profit organization received more than $3.34 million in stimulus money to expand its operations in 2009, according to federal data.

Len Jozwiak, vice president of Geminus Head Start, said the money enabled the group to hire 38 new staff members to serve an additional 185 children. Geminus also expanded its early Head Start programming into LaPorte County.

Jozwiak said his only fear is the additional funding will not continue. There is no guarantee the extra programs will be funded past 2011.

"What happens if we do all this and the money isn't there in two years?" he said. "The federal government said if the money doesn't continue, then the programs will just stop."

Sharron Liggins, executive director of the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana, said the threat of not getting more than a one-time infusion of stimulus money is real.

"(We) are all hoping that this particular financial impact will be on an ongoing basis," she said. "It's vital."

Continuum of Care received $1.05 million in stimulus money for homelessness prevention and rapid relocation of people who meet certain income requirements. The money is listed on Recovery.gov as being received by Healthvisions Midwest, Continuum of Care's fiscal agent, federal records show.

Liggins said the program lasts up to 18 months for each client and includes financial and rental assistance, consumer credit counseling and legal services. The goal is to stabilize individuals' housing and economic situation and help them become self-sufficient.

Liggins said Northwest Indiana, with its unemployment, foreclosure and poverty rates, needs Continuum's services. She said she hopes the program's success will ensure its continued funding.