| Gazing into the crystal ball of economic prognostications, there are strong indications we are headed for a jobless recovery. Even in the best case scenario, we are looking at many months (if not years) of persistently high unemployment rates.
The premise of this diary is thus: I predict between now and the 2010 mid-terms elections, the Democratic Congress and the Obama administration will pass a second stimulus bill focused on job creation. It will include a program similar to the depression era Works Progress Administration.
1,000 West Virginians in 1,000 Days
One of the lessons learned from the last stimulus package is "shovel-ready" projects have the best chance of getting funded. With that in mind, now is a good time to start thinking about project proposals to prepared in advance of the next stimulus bill. (Does your favorite organization have any old grant proposals it can dust off and update?)
Most important, what kinds of projects can we do here in West Virginia with a nearly unlimited local labor pool? Let your imagination run wild.
I could see major projects hiring up to 1,000 West Virginians each for an average of 1,000 days (about 3 years). If you devote the first 10% of the time to job-specific training, that's 3-months of intensive training followed by 30 months of work in a local community.
Here are a just a few ideas that spring to mind:
* Make home and community visits for basic screening for major preventable and manageable mental and physical health problems.
* Test water sources for all streams, rivers, and a sample of wells all across the state to develop a baseline of water quality.
* Perform energy audits on homes and provide energy efficiency and green energy installation services.
* Provide more intensive out-patient and community-based services for veterans, disabled, recovering, and other marginalized populations current at risk for "falling through the cracks" of public and private services.
* Assist schools in developing new programs to involve parents, assist under-served populations, and at-risk students (e.g., before, after school programs, etc.).
I'm sure there are all sorts of great ideas people have for how an otherwise idle labor pool can be gainfully employed for the public good. What would you like to see 1,000 West Virginians do for 1,000 days? |
