Laughlin spends $4.8 million in stimulus funds

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sara Csurilla
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With the intent to energize the economy, a stimulus package of $787 billion was approved by President Barack Obama through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year.

Of that $787 billion, the Department of Defense received $7.4 billion. DOD then filtered $1.7 billion to the Air Force and Laughlin, along with many other Air Force installations, received their piece of the pie.

"Laughlin didn't receive a lump sum, per se," said Maj. David Huber, 47th Contracting Squadron commander. "As our projects were ready for award, the funding was made available for them. In total, we obligated $4.8 million for ARRA."

With such a vast amount of funds, the Air Force had specific plans about how the money would be spent and what causes the money would support.

"The stimulus money has almost solely gone to construction projects to increase the quality of life for our Airmen and improve our facilities," said Major Huber. "Included in the Air Force's construction projects are high-priority maintenance and repair of its infrastructure, new Child Development Centers, military housing and dormitories. The Air Force also intends to use ARRA funds for fuel cell, wind and solar research and other energy security programs as well."

As for Laughlin's stimulus funding, it was all applied towards construction projects that will help improve infrastructure that will increase longevity and help better the deteriorating facilities that needed expedient repairs, said Major Huber.

"The projects will be very beneficial to the base," he said. "The projects benefit numerous agencies. Additionally, there is a little something for everyone so to speak. For example, we are fixing towers, repairing roads, water towers, kennels and more."

To get the ball rolling on those projects and better the base, members of the 47th Contracting Squadron devoted hundreds of hours of overtime to award numerous contracts

"Two projects are already complete," he said. "All others are either awaiting material before construction can commence or construction has actually started."

While completing the construction projects is no easy task, the efforts put forth by Laughlin's contracting squadron deserve applause as well, according to their commander.

With 31 percent of his team deployed, Major Huber said his team performed "very admirably."

"Despite the low manning, we awarded $4.8 million in contracts for the most recent ended quarter. We put in 405 overtime hours and we made it all happen," said Major Huber. "We were able to award 11 ARRA contracts, helping create 8,500 jobs in the congressional district, and the $4.8 million we obligated in ARRA contracts should provide benefit for Del Rio."