Localizing Recovery Act Spending Is Getting Easier

Data on how, where, when, and by whom Recovery Act money is being spent is beginning to accumulate, though it remains incomplete and can be hard to track down. However, the advocacy group OMB Watch is attempting to make this information more current and user-friendly. Using government-supplied data, the group launched its compendium on Dec. 3, 2009.

• Recovery Act Recipient Reports Database.

The data covers the period from Feb. 17, 2009, to Sept. 30, 2009. It will be updated periodically. You can drill down through, and map, environmentally-related funds in many ways, such as type of project, affiliated federal or state agency, location (e.g., state, Congressional district, zip code), dollar amounts, and number of contracts awarded.

As one starting point, several federal programs that deal with the environment in one way or another are among the top 10 conduits for money so far, including ones within the Depts. of Transportation and Energy and the EPA.

• Recovery Act Awards by Program.