Dyess to receive Recovery Act money

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dyess is expected to receive more than $13.4 million in stimulus money in the coming months to help cover 15 needed civil engineer projects on the base. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes approximately $7.4 billion in defense-related appropriations, which accounts for less than one percent of the total $787 billion stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama. 

"The Air Force fully supports the administration's commitment to invest Recovery Act dollars with unprecedented transparency and accountability so Americans know how and where their tax dollars are being spent," said Audrey Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial operations.

The 15 projects at Dyess range from the most $2.11 million for repairing aircraft parking aprons to $97,000 for quality of life projects. 

Most of the projects are ready to be awarded as soon as the money is received. The money is expected to flow to Dyess sometime in late April. 

"While we do not know the exact date of when the money will arrive, we will distribute it out as quickly as possible to the appropriate squadrons when it becomes available," said Maj. Ted Wahoske, 7th Comptroller Squadron. 

Ms. Davis said the Air Force is committed to following secretary of defense guidance to meet critical accountability requirements while ensuring efficient execution of the projects.

"When it comes to being accountable to the Air Force family and the American people, we want to do it right," Ms. Davis said. "Investment in Air Force-related projects will further President Barack Obama's goal of providing much-needed stimulus to the economy while improving quality of life for Airmen and their families." 

"Our intent is to spend the money exactly as Congress has intended for it to be," Maj. Wahoske said. "We will be very upfront with how the money is spent." 

Seven of the projects are slated for energy, six for repairing of pavement, roads and grounds, one for operations and one for quality of life. 

To view a complete list of the specific projects announced today, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/recovery and http://www.recovery.gov . 

Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, contributed to this article.