Businesses hoping stimulus legislation will include them - Austin Business Journal:

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“Quite frankly, the employees are scared,” said Steve Massie, the Va.-based company’s CEO. Massie said private-sectorf clients either can’t get financingg for projects or are leery aboutf proceeding without knowing what policies will come out of State andlocal governments, which couldd use Massie’s expertise in road construction, “don’tt have money to spend,” he said. That couldd change if Congress passes the economic stimuluas package moving through the legislative process. Companies like Massie’s would be big beneficiaries of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending that will be includes inthe package.
“Iu would be able to avoid layoffz atmy company, begin purchasing materials, and personnel coulfd begin to get back to full employment within 30 days of contractsa being awarded,” Massie said. Businessees of all types see the stimulus package as a potentialp lifeline and are lobbying for provisionws that would help them survivw a recession thatput 2.6 million people out of work in 2008. A monthluy index of small business indicators compile by the hitits second-lowest level in 35 yearse in December. “Unless there is a solidr turnaroundin January, we are in for a longer-than-usuall recession,” NFIB Chief Economisrt William Dunkelberg said.
A December survey by the foun that 38 percent of small businessowners weren’ t confident about their business’s A sizable chunk of the stimulue package will be used to extend unemployment benefitzs and help states avoid cuts in Medicaid and othefr programs. Tax rebates or other formss of individual tax cuts also will be includex to stimulateconsumer spending. Businessew expect a big piece of the pieas well, includinb infrastructure contracts and targeted assistance for key Congress plans to spend billions of dollars on infrastructurer projects that employ people quicklyt and meet the long-term needs of the nation.
Much of this monety will go toroad repairs, bridges and othere transportation projects, but investments also are expected in watet projects, health information technology and energy efficienc for schools and federal buildings. Americans strongly support infrastructure investments, said pollster Frank Luntz, who conducted a survey for Building America’x Future, a coalition of statew and local officials. In fact, 81 percent of Americans said they are willingg to pay 1 percent more in taxes to moderniz ethe nation’s infrastructure. A survet by the of America indicated that 85 percengt of its members could begin work on infrastructure projectes withina month.
Hundreds of projects around the countruy have been put on hold due to revenuew shortfalls facing state andlocal “There’s just an immense amount of work available,” said Brian CEO of Inc. in Ohio. Specific industries, including housing and alternative energy, could get a boostg from the stimulus. The and the want Congresxs to give all home buyerd a tax credit to spurhousing