How quickly will states use the funding?
President Obama and Congress have emphasized the fact that the purpose of these funds is to get people back to work. The law requires that states give priority to projects that will be ready to proceed to construction within 12 months of enactment of the Act. If a state fails to have project under contract or construction within 12 months, EPA will take grant funds that have not been committed to projects from the state and provide it to those states that do have projects ready to proceed. Based on past experience, EPA expects that projects will take from 1-3 years to complete construction.
