WARWICK, RI - Congressman Jim Langevin today marked the one-year anniversary of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with the mayors of Providence, Warwick, Cranston and Johnston at the Buttonwoods Community Center in Warwick.

“It is important to highlight some of the progress that has been made in our cities over the past year as we look to the future and discuss how we can continue to move Rhode Island forward,” said Langevin. "Recovery Act resources helped cushion us through this recession and will help us lay strong economic foundations for the future."

“These stimulus funds have been critically important to our efforts to create jobs and fuel our economy,” said Providence Mayor David Cicilline.  “I want to thank Congressman Langevin for his strong advocacy on behalf of Rhode Island families as he fights to put Rhode Islanders back to work.”

“These funds have allowed municipalities and their community partners to expand programs that will improve life for our citizens in a number of ways,” said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. “For example, the money that Westbay Community Action received for their adult education academy not only provided immediate job opportunities but also assures that students are getting the skills and training necessary to enter and succeed in a competitive workforce.”

“I am pleased that stimulus funds have been able to help some of our fine local agencies as they do their work for Cranston residents,” said Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. “I look forward to continued work with Congressman Langevin in his efforts to realize more funding for our City.”

“The Route 6/Hartford Avenue road construction project being performed with ARRA funding is a boon for local economic development,” said Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena. “It will expedite the creation of over 400 new jobs in the development of the $30 million Stuarts’ Plaza project, as well as providing much needed temporary jobs for the unemployed in the construction trades.” 

The Buttonwoods Community Center is home to the Westbay Adult Education Academy. The academy, which is administered by Westbay Community Action Program, received $230,000 in Recovery Act funding. This infusion of funding created four full-time jobs and allowed the program to expand to better meet the community’s demand for GED classes, work readiness and college prep assistance.

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