Stimulus money helps city go green

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Federal dollars are bringing in some new toys for the city of Terre Haute.

The city will be going green in a couple of weeks. Terre Haute will be getting two new hybrid city buses that will hopefully cut down on fuel costs and emissions. The city's stop lights may still be switched out for energy efficient LED lights.

Also, the Terre Haute Police Department just received five new motorcycles that were used in the processional for Sgt. Dale Griffin.

More work is expected on the Brown Boulevard project in 2010, all possible from stimulus money.

If it wasn't for the stimulus money, many of the projects would be pushed three to four years down the road.

Mayor Duke Bennett said while the city's been able to invest in some new technology and projects, it comes at the perfect time as more budget issues are expected in 2010.

"With people not working we're told we're going to have about a 25 percent cut in 2010, we take in about $4 million so we're looking at a $1 million cut," Bennett said.

The city is still waiting to hear back on a couple of federal grants.

They also applied for money for a new fire station, of course as many states face budget cuts there's a lot of competition for the federal dollars.

If you'd like to see what the stimulus dollars are being spent on in Terre Haute and to keep up with the latest projects you can visit the mayor's Web site at www.terrehaute.in.gov/mayors-office.