Thursday, March 19, 2009
Disc golf
StimulusWatch.org presents “shovel-ready” projects around the United States and allows web visitors to vote on which ones are worth funding. The list was compiled by The United States Conference of Mayors, but anyone can vote. According to site users, here are some of the projects least worth funding and most worth funding.
5 Projects Not Worth Funding
1. Doorbells for the Elderly in Laurel, Mississippi
At a cost of $99,600, the project would provide doorbells for elderly citizens, including indoor ones for emergency use. What seems to bother users is not the doorbells themselves, but the price tag: $77.50 per doorbell.
2. Industrial Zone in Cidra, Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans do pay taxes to the U.S. government and this project would create 1,623 jobs. However, the cost of the project is estimated at $17.5 billion, meaning it would cost more than $10 million to create each job.
3. Disc Golf Course in Austin, Texas
Disc golf is a relatively new sport in which, instead of hitting a ball into a hole, players throw a Frisbee into a metal basket. The proposed project would spend $886,000 to create a 36-hole course.
4. Convention Center Hotel in Dallas, Texas
The city of Dallas would like $386 million to build a 1,000-room hotel connected to the Dallas Convention Center. The hotel would be owned by the city, but operated by a private company.
5. Dog Park in Chula Vista, California
At a cost of $500,000, this proposed project would create seven jobs by constructing a dog park as part of the new Sunset View Park.
5 Projects Worth Funding
1. Veterans Nursing Home in Cleveland, Tennessee
At a cost of $4.3 million, construction of a veterans’ nursing home in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern corner of Tennessee would create 310 jobs.
2. Model Project to Convert Landfill Gas into Usable Fuels in Beaumont, Texas
The idea is to convert the gases produced by decomposing solid waste in landfills into natural gas and hydrogen to be used to fuel city vehicles. Price tag: $5 million. Jobs created: 50.
3. Kansas State University Child Development Center in Manhattan, Kansas
At a cost of $1 million, this project would replace a deteriorating building used to teach and care for 150 children. The current center has a waiting list of 200 children.
4. Geothermal Power Plant in Salt Lake City, Utah
This $70-million project would create a 20-megawatt plant to generate power by using geothermal energy. Estimated long-term jobs created: 70.
5. Improvements to Shore Cultural Centre in Euclid, Ohio
The Shore Cultural Centre provides classes and cultural events for the 53,000 residents of Euclid. The project would cost $9 million and provide 88 jobs.
Doorbells Ringing a Sour Note (by Eloria Newell James, Laurel Leader-Call)
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