WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Treasury Department announced today that $25 billion in bond authority will be immediately available for State and local governments under the Recovery Zone Bonds program. Recovery Zone Bonds, created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (P.L. 111-5), are targeted to areas particularly affected by significant job loss and will help State and local governments obtain capital for much needed economic development projects.
“Recovery Zone Bonds are an essential step towards revitalizing the economic health of our communities," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). “These bonds will help finance improvements in infrastructure, job training and education that will continue our economic recovery and help families in hard-hit communities gain the tools necessary to get back on their feet and build a brighter future. Secretary Geithner and the Treasury Department should be commended for their quick implementation of this economic recovery program."
The Ways and Means Committee developed the Recovery Zone Bond program under the leadership of Chairman Rangel and coordinated with Congressional leadership and President Obama to ensure its inclusion the ARRA.
According to details released by the Treasury Department today, the program includes $25 billion for two new types of Recovery Zone Bonds - $10 billion for Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds and $15 billion for Recovery Zone Facility Bonds. Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds are another type of taxable Build America Bond that allow State and local governments to obtain lower borrowing costs through a new direct federal payment subsidy, for 45 percent of the interest, to finance a broad range of qualified economic development projects, such as job training and educational programs. Recovery Zone Facility Bonds are tax-exempt private activity bonds that can be utilized by private businesses in designated areas for a range of projects.
