Dutchess County receives funds

DUTCHESS COUNTY — Under the federal stimulus program, $83 was spent for each resident of Dutchess County. Overall, Dutchess County has received more than $141 million in recovery funding under the government stimulus plan, according to the ProPublica Web site, which has captured data through early December 2009.

The bulk of the funding received in Dutchess County is being spent on highways, public housing and mass transportation.  Most county educational institutions received substantial funding through the Pell Grant Program,  with Dutchess Community College awarded more than $1.8 million and Hyde Park’s Culinary Institute of America receiving more than nearly $1.2 million.

In addition to stimulating the area economy, the recovery funds also stimulate research projects. Area colleges received research grants from the National Science Foundation such as Bard College’s $200,000 grant to study babesiosis, a rapidly emerging disease transmitted through the bite of isodid ticks and Vassar’s two grants totaling $620,000.

There are recipients large and small in the northeast corner of Dutchess County. Small business loans have been extended to local businesses like Sunny & Harry’s Quick Shops in Amenia, Manna Dew Café in Millerton and TDMCD Enterprises in Millbrook.  The area’s largest recipient is the Cary Institute with three grants focusing on ecosystem issues totaling almost $500,000.

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