Harrisburg, Pa. - Pennsylvania stands to receive $1.5 billion for infrastructure improvements from the federal stimulus plan. The projects could put thousands back to work, but some are wondering if the new jobs will only benefit certain people.

Six-thousand bridges are in need of repair, according to Gov. Ed Rendell, who said infrastructure improvement projects should create at least 45,000 jobs.

"I just wonder if those types of jobs for the computer guy would be the kind of job we're talking about," said John Harrison of Hampden Township.

It's not just construction workers who are among Pennsylvania's unemployed.

"I hope that we'll all find jobs and that the stimulus will help all of us and not just a small group," said Messiah College student Stacey Matson.

State leaders believe a large group will benefit from infrastructure funding. Some people without work may have to trade their career goals for a shovel, others may not.

"They might have to get their hands dirty in some of the construction jobs, but you have to realize beyond the construction jobs and the people doing the heavy lifting and the hard work, there's also the back office support," said Barry Ciccocioppo, a spokesperson for Rendell. "Accounting, computers, there's maintenance on the vehicles. There's a lot of jobs that come off of the construction industry."

The idea of having a job, some said, is more important than what type of job it is.

"Maybe we need to separate our thoughts about what gives us stature from the way that we get our paychecks," said Landisburg resident Donna Miller.

So what happens when the dust settles after the bridges and roads are fixed? Those jobs could disappear. By that time, state leaders said, there will be other opportunities.

"We get people working, the people are going to start spending again, Ciccocioppo said. "They're going to start spending money, going to stores, taking advantage of services that would then require more workers in those fields."

State Republicans have criticized the federal spending plan. Some suggested the best way to stimulate the economy is to lower taxes on businesses so that companies can hire more workers.

 

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