How do the stimulus funds get to where they're going?

April 20, 2009 9:06 AM

Stimulus filter: Help me understand how the funds get to where they're going.

I am trying to understand as much about the ARRA 2009 as I can. I love this infographic from the Washington Post for seeing what the funds will be used for.

Now I'm trying to understand how the funds get there. What levels government the money has to pass through to get to the end recipients. What would a flow chart look like? Would it look like: ARRA-->Federal Agencies-->States-->Cities/Counties-->Local programs-->Individuals?

Can anyone explain how it works, or point to resources that can? (I'm aware that I can read the whole bill online). Thanks!

posted by shotgunbooty to law & government (4 comments total)

All of your ARRA questions are helpfully laid out at Recovery.gov, and the bill.

It depends on each individual allocation. For example, some of the money for wind turbines or solar panels can come from several different places according to the act (two types of tax credits, two types of grants from the energy department, energy efficiency grants from the federal government to state utility commissions, which would then be passed on to utilities, then to customers.
posted by Pants! at 9:24 AM on April 20

Pretend I know how to use parentheses when you read my comment.
posted by Pants! at 9:26 AM on April 20

Here's one pathway:

ARRA-->National Institutes of Health-->Research Institutions/ Grant Awardees.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 9:49 AM on April 20

ARRA-->National Institutes of Health-->Research Institutions/ Grant Awardees

→scientists
→general contractors→subcontractors→construction workers
                                →hardware manufacturers→factory workers
→scientific product distributors→product manufacturers→R&D workers, factory workers

And so on. And of course all of these people are going to put much of the money back into the economy by spending it on personal goods and services as well.
posted by grouse at 10:25 AM on April 20