Mayport On Stimulus List New CDC Will Focus On Infants And Toddlers

According to the Department of Defense Military Construction (MILCON) Expenditure Plan, just above $10 million has been specifically allocated for a Child Development Center (CDC).

NS Mayport MWR Director Lonnie Kenney said the new CDC will replace the on-base location that services only 60 children. The new center will have an occupancy of 221 children and will have an emphasis on infants and toddlers, he said.

"Infants and toddlers ... are what we have on our waiting list, Kenney said. "We are preparing for the future of Mayport."

The new CDC will be located beside the current off-base center, off Assisi Road, with an estimated contract award date of September 2009 and an estimated start date of March 2010 and completion date of June 2011.

Also in the MILCON Plan, almost $20 million has been allocated for all Navy Region Southeast Florida installations to have advance meters installed.

According to the plan, this project installs electric meters, gas meters, water meters, steam meters and shadow metering for all incoming utilities. Another $34.7 million has been earmarked to install photovoltaic systems in Navy Region Southeast Florida Installations. Photovoltaic is renewable energy systems that will be installed on rooftops of various facilities at naval installations in Florida. The renewable energy systems will connect to the low voltage side of the building transformer and does not include ienergy storage. This project will reduce the overall recurring utility costs in Navy shore facilities.

The $5.9 billion budget for these construction and repair projects represents the bulk of the approximately $7.4 billion in defense-related funding provided by the ARRA signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, 2009.

DoD Recovery Act funds will be spent at DoD facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The primary purpose of these funds is to create jobs and stimulate economic activity across the country. All projects focus on making much-needed improvements to military installations and include hospitals, child development centers, and housing for troops and their families.

The two largest DoD projects to be constructed under the ARRA will be new hospitals at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Fort Hood, Texas.

Representing less than 1 percent of the entire $787 billion ARRA package, the $7.4 billion investment in defense-related projects will further the legislation's stated goal of stimulating the American economy, while improving the quality of life for service members, their families, and DoD civilian workers.

ARRA funds are also being used to support DoD high priority programs such as care for wounded warriors and energy security. Facility improvement projects include many energy conservation measures. $300 million of ARRA funds will be used on military energy research programs so that the DoD can continue to lead the way in the national effort to achieve greater energy independence.

To view a complete list of the specific projects announced today, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/recovery and http://www.recovery.gov. The DoD will continue to use these Web sites to post future announcements related to ARRA funding.