Hardest Hit States Receive Fewer Stimulus Funds
New Data Tracks Federal Dollars for Advocacy, Action
FairRecovery.org follows money trail to communities most in need
For Release Media Contact: Llenda Jackson-Leslie
July 6, 2009 202-833-9771
llenda@mckpr.com
info@fairrecovery.org
Four states with some of the nation’s highest unemployment rates -- Michigan,
South Carolina, California and Nevada -- are getting fewer stimulus funds than
sparsely populated states relatively unscathed by the economic meltdown.
Tracking on the allocations of recovery dollars shows that Montana, Wyoming
and Vermont have received higher per capita allocations than states suffering
double-digit joblessness.
Factor in the explosive 14.9% jobless rate among African Americans, and 12.7%
among Latinos, compared to 9.4% for the general population and the meltdown
sounds more like a full-grade depression.
This data is showcased on FairRecovery.org, a multimedia website focused on
research, advocacy and action in response to the unprecedented economic
recovery spending. Staffed by a team of economists, demographers and legal
experts, the initiative is following the trail of billions of federal dollars to determine
if the American Recovery Reinvestment Act is easing the economic crisis for
those hardest hit.
john powell, Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute and a leader of the Fair
Recovery project says the site offers analysis to place facts and figures in
context. “We’re telling the story behind the story looking at which communities
and groups are suffering the most, what funds are being delivered and the impact
on communities devastated by unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcy and
persistent racial disparities,” powell says. “This is the largest restructuring since
the Depression and the recovery offers a real chance to address the persistent
inequities plaguing marginalized communities.”
"Race remains a significant factor in determining who gets access to what in this
country and communities of color continue to suffer substantial disadvantages,"
said Dennis Parker, Director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. "Our nation's
civil rights laws prohibit stimulus funds from being disbursed in a way that creates
or exacerbates racial inequality, so it is crucially important to ensure that
these funds are used to promote equal opportunity for all Americans. The

resources contained in this website provide a roadmap for ensuring that all
citizens have access to economic recovery and sustainability."
Juhu Thukral, Director of Law and Advocacy for The Opportunity Agenda, adds
that economic recovery must benefit all Americans. “Even before the current
economic downturn, different groups experienced starkly different levels of
opportunity, and there is real reason to believe that the current crisis is affecting
some communities far more severely than others. A one-size recovery does not
fit all. Fairrecovery.org is a forum for advocates, policymakers, business leaders
and officials to share ideas and solutions for an economic recovery that is
transformative and prepares us for the challenges of a global economy.”
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