Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the implementation of the Emergency Jobs Appropriations Act of 1983, specifically the status of projects funded by the act in the Cleveland, Ohio, metropolitan area.
GAO noted that the act requires federal agencies and states to use the funds, to the extent practicable, in a manner which maximizes the immediate creation of new employment opportunities. GAO found that: (1) as of March 31, 1984, $26.5 million of the act's funds had been awarded for 153 projects in the Cleveland metropolitan area; (2) 37 percent of the awarded funds were spent within the first year; (3) an estimated 961 people were employed on various projects during the year following passage of the act; (4) at least 228 of those people were previously unemployed; and (5) efforts by federal, state, and local officials to fulfill the employment requirements of the act ranged from requiring individuals hired to certify that they were unemployed to not informing contractors about the act's provision. GAO also found that, in addition to the short-term employment opportunities resulting from funded projects, other benefits were expected such as: (1) long-term employment opportunities stemming from short-term employment training; (2) improved navigation and flood control of the Cleveland harbor; (3) improvements to community recreation facilities, roads, and streets; (4) new and continued day care programs and services to the elderly; and (5) rehabilitated public buildings and utilities.
