February 17, 2009 By Matt Williams
The new New Deal has arrived.
President Barack Obama signed a massive $787 billion economic stimulus package on Tuesday in Denver. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is aimed at jump-starting the struggling U.S. economy, and includes billions of dollars that could benefit state and local government IT.
The legislation includes funds for high-speed rail, broadband build-out, health IT development, and energy efficiency and "smart" power grid initiatives. Obama called it the most sweeping economic package in U.S. history.
"Because of this investment, nearly 400,000 men and women will go to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, repairing our faulty dams and levees, bringing critical broadband connections to businesses and homes in nearly every community in America, upgrading mass transit, and building high-speed rail lines that will improve travel and commerce throughout the nation," Obama said at the signing ceremony.
Obama said the computerization of Americans' health records was "long overdue" and would eliminate duplication and save billions of dollars. He said a modernized electrical grid would help the U.S. better utilize renewable energy.
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Based off of discussions of the Digital Communities Large Jurisdiction Chief Information Officer (CIO) Working Group, this white paper aims to answer the question, "In today's economic, political and business environment, what constitutes a successful relationship between government and industry?" Cause for Optimism identifies and clarifies the issues that separate government and industry, and begins to find an answer to the question necessary for both to enjoy a successful and prosperous future.
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Digital Communities (DC) is e.Republic‘s local government program. The particular strength of DC is its focus on encouraging collaboration and creating productive relationships between and among cities, counties, regions and select private sector companies uniquely positioned to help improve the delivery of public services.
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