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Stimulus Money Keeps Quad Cities Members on the Job

March 24, 2010

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Despite the flagging economy, members of Rock Island, Ill., Local 145 continue to have steady work – thanks largely to stimulus-fueled contracts.

Representing workers in the Quad Cities – which includes Rock Island and Moline, Ill., and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa – the local boasts about an 85 percent employment rate. Dozens of Local 145 journeymen are working on a $25 million project at the Rock Island Arsenal wiring offices for the Army Corps of Engineers. The local also has several other well-paying projects at the arsenal keeping members on the clock.

“If we didn’t have these projects, we’d have double the unemployment that we currently have,” said Local 145 Business Manager Scott Verschoore. “We’re very happy with the Senate leadership in Illinois who voted for the act last year. For our members, the stimulus act has been a godsend.”

Local 145 members are also picking up hours on a $21 million project in the Hawkeye State for the Iowa Job Corps. Journeymen are wiring a facility – the first of three planned – that will offer laid-off workers education and vocational training in new fields.

“After the economy took a downturn, we were very apprehensive of our ability to keep our electricians employed,” said Jeff Lanum, a former Local 145 member who runs signatory contractor Russell Electric. “The Job Corps project released some of our stress. We’ve also been able to procure several other Recovery Act projects and are very thankful the bill was passed.”

IBEW members in the Quad Cities have fared well since 2009, logging 1.3 million man-hours on projects, Verschoore said.

Photo used under a Creative Commons License from Flickr user yomanimus.