Granholm: area ahead of stimulus game

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - When it comes to getting stimulus money for road projects, Governor Jennifer Granholm said West Michigan is ahead of the game.

In a Friday morning appearance at  the Kent County Road Commission, the governor said she is encouraging the legislature to approve the stimulus projects by the end of March.

The council produced a list of preferred projects that they hope will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, as part of the $787 billion economic stimulus plan.

"We are not going to lose a single dime of stimulus money," Granholm said.

It will be a while before exactly which projects will be added to an already billion-dollar construction season. The Governor wants the final list of request by the first of March and then wants the legislature to sign off on the deal by the end of March.

24 Hour News 8 also talked to some local legislators who seem inclined to go along with the Governor on the idea of more road construction.

After an appearance in Kalamazoo, Granholm heads to Washington D.C. for the National Governors Association winter meetings.

Michigan Recovery and Reinvestment Plan