Federal Stimulus Dollars - Paving the Way in Michigan ANN ARBOR, MI (Associated Press) -


Michigan concrete companies are gearing up for the state to spend tens of millions of federal dollars on public works projects.

Governor Granholm this week will outline the criteria the state will use to pick which construction projects will get federal stimulus money this year. The state plans to spend more than 850 million stimulus dollars on transportation projects. That means a lot of concrete.

Dan DeGraaf is the executive director of the Michigan Concrete Paving Association. He says state concrete companies have been waiting for the government to step up investment on roads and bridges.

"What the stimulus package does is its helps us for this year and part of next to get close to what we consider a normal year for the past," says DeGraaf, "It's still not enough to improve the quality of the roads in Michigan a significant level. We're still losing ground, I think, overall."

DeGraaf expects the bulk of the transportation projects won't get started until summer. © Copyright 2012, Associated Press