&dquo;North Carolina is leading the nation in efforts to expedite the selection of projects and get them under way as quickly as possible to get our people to work,&dquo; Perdue said. &dquo;Given our current economy, it is critical that we are using our recovery money to help put people to work and create much-needed economic growth for our communities.&dquo;

According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation generates $6 million in economic impact.

Based on these figures, the additional projects announced today are expected to help support more than 6,000 jobs and contribute nearly $1.3 billion to the economy.

The N.C. Department of Transportation had already identified about 70 highway and bridge projects to be let to contract between March and June through recovery funding. Eleven projects totaling $65.1 million were awarded to contract in March. The projects announced last week will be let to contract over the next 12 months.

Other projects on the rural planning organization&squo;s wish list for stimulus funding in Polk County were a pedestrian bridge over I-26 as well as a few other roadway improvements.