Stimulus money at work

 Governor Jim Doyle presented the city of Nekoosa with a check for $510,000. That money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

People in Nekoosa have been talking about building a joint senior and community center for nearly ten years. A center that would provide meals, health screenings, counseling, and a variety of classes.

Mayor Gordon Freemon says, "We have our service groups, and we have our seniors and we have these types of people who are meeting all over in the church basements. We don't really have a good facility."

But Governor Jim Doyle says this project is one of many in the country that will happen, thanks to recovery funds.

He says, "Each one these is not going to help us suddenly get out of the recession that we're in. Each one of these isn't going to make the biggest difference in the world. But all of these together are going to make a real difference."

A difference Nekoosa community members weren't sure they'd ever see.

Freemon says, "Because of the economy where it's at right now it's been very difficult. So this is a boost in the arm and this makes a dream almost a reality at this point."

And Governor Doyle commended the community for not giving up despite these tough times.

He says, "Decades from now in Nekoosa, people are going to be able to point at this great senior community center and to say you know that was done during a very difficult time in the United States. That was done at a time where we had not to be afraid but be ready to move forward and ready to make those investments."

The project will create about 25 construction jobs and is scheduled to be completed by June 2010.