Las Vegas NowWhere is Stimulus Money Helping?

Where is Stimulus Money Helping?

The slipping job market has sent some union members back to the drawing board. They are learning what weatherization is all about through sketches.

Anthony Valdez is with the Laborers Local 872. He and other laborers are back in the classroom getting the skills they need for these newly created jobs. "Anything that's going to employ our people, especially during this time of economic crisis," he said.

From blueprints to machines that measure if air is leaking or coming into a home that shouldn't be, it's all part of a new program Mark Edgel with the union says will help laborers land jobs. "We have a lot of homes that need to be weatherized so they'll have to bring a lot of people on board. We're looking to probably put 60 to 80 people to work by the end of this year and next year even more to handle the demand," he said.

Jake Joyce with Applied Analysis, an economic outlook company, says the stimulus money is helping but it will be a while before more jobs are created because the money comes in the form of grants. "Grants take more time because you have to write them and get them approved and then take them from concept to shovel ready. It does take a lot more time," he said.

But time is something most people looking for jobs don't have. "You don't want to be left out in the cold and not have something to rely on," said Valdez.

Nevada received $2.1 billion in stimulus money and is still waiting for another $1 billion. The money has created a little more than 1,000 new jobs. The jobs just aren't popping up as fast as those who lost their jobs would like.