Federal broadband stimulus dollars will bring 800 new public computers to Philadelphia, the same number currently available throughout the Free Library‘s 54 regional branches.

On Friday the Division of Technology announced that it will receive $6.4 million in federal dollars to fund public computer centers, new and old, throughout the city, according to a press release.

Twenty-five existing computer centers will be improved and 48 centers created at anchor institutions that include city recreation centers, homeless shelters, public housing and community-based organizations. Hours of access at the existing public centers will also be increased, providing for 14,000 more people per week.

The project—led by DOT—includes partnerships with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Philadelphia FIGHT, the People’s Emergency Center, Philadlephia OIC and Media Mobilizing Project will also be involved.

The grant comes as part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration‘s federal broadband stimulus funds—more than $4 billion for broadband-related projects—set aside by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

If ever there was an example of the impact 800 new computers will bring to the region, it’s that which was evidenced in our September piece about last year’s state budget crunch, which threatened the availability of the Free Library’s public access computers.

The library system—which now serves patrons on 800 existing computer terminals—accounts for 1.3 million annual computer reservations.

It’s in our libraries and at public computer centers that folks without computer and web access have the opportunity to take advantage of what many with access may take for granted. It’s estimated that about 50 percent of the region’s households are without broadband Internet access.

Last August, the City of Philadelphia applied for $35 million of the broadband stimulus pot through several grant applications, as we reported.

But contrary to the Governor’s office highest recommendation—a $2.3 million bid from the Philadelphia Housing Authority—it was the city’s application to improve public computer centers which appears to have most impressed the feds, though its originally proposed $14 million budget was more than halved.

Preparation for the city’s application began in May 2009, when Chief Technology Officer Allan Frank began assembling stakeholders throughout the city to discuss Philadelphia’s digital future, as we reported in our comprehensive coverage of the process.

As part of what Frank has called his “Digital Philadelphia” vision, those stakeholders began completing several federal broadband stimulus grant applications, including one to help improve network infrastructure throughout the city and several for computer implementation and education, like the one awarded Friday. Partners like the Free Library, Media Mobilizing Project and others were closely involved in drafting the application.

After it seemed unlikely that the city would receive funding for its middle mile network infrastructure improvements—the possibility of federal funding seemed more plausable for its computer centers—the Division of Technology applied for the opportunity to become a test candidate for Google’s ultra-high speed fiber broadband in May, as we reported.

Google’s candidates are expected to be announced this fall.

An interview with state Secretary of Administration Naomi Wyatt reveals that software for procurement, financials and budget, provided by SAP since 2002, has helped the state submit reports. The software provider’s BusinessObjects suite also has aided in more substantial and detailed reporting, which delves deep into the state’s 19 agencies and 3,500 vendors, grantees and subgrantees.

Be sure to read the entire interview with Wyatt over at GovTech.

Rendell was quite prepared for $2.2 million in federal broadband research and planning funds that we reported Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development tells Technically Philly that the state is already in negotiations with a yet undisclosed vendor to handle the job.

An RFQ issued for the project last fall called for a group to map broadband coverage provided by wireline, cable and wireless networks in the state and to identify key anchor institutions, like schools, hospitals and government buildings.

The information will be made available publicly on what Office of Administration spokesperson Luc Miron says will likely be a “Web portal with a GIS interface with search functionality.” The maps will allow state applicants of future rounds of broadband stimulus funding to improve their pitches.

A smaller portion of the $2.2 million grant will be used to research barriers to broadband adoption why folks may not be taking up or adopting broadband in urban or rural areas, whether related to cost, availability or awareness.

The new mapping data will compliment data already collected by the state in 2004, Miron says, available at Pennylvania’s broadband-focused information portal. Miron works in Rendell’s Office of Information Technology.

“Pennsylvania was one of the first states to enact and pass state legislation to create a broadband data availability repository,” he says.

Now, the state awaits the NTIA to award the first round of funding of $7.2 billion being distributed to improve broadband adoption, which Miron says is running three months behind schedule.

Miron hopes that this, the first federal grant provided to Pennsylvania related to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s broadband stimulus funding, will be one of many for the state.

“Shame on all of us if we can only get one grant,” he says.

A $2.2 million federal grant for broadband data and mapping in Pennsylvania will help the state's broadband vision, outlined in a report here by the Rendell Administration (PDF).

A federal grant will fund research into the digital divide and ways to solve it in Pennsylvania.

The National Telecommunication and Information Administration announced Tuesday that Pennsylvania has been awarded a two-year, $1.7 million grant to collection data about broadband adoption, MuniWireless reports. An additional $500,000 will be used for planning a broadband strategy in the state, bringing the total award to $2.2 million.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which will handle the funds, was not immediately available for comment.

The NTIA has awarded $97 million to 51 grantees so far and will likely wrap up the remaining grants this quarter. The grants -which will be awarded to each state, the District of Columbia and five territories – are a part of the Obama administration’s strategy to improve broadband adoption in the U.S.

More than $300 million was set aside in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to collect data to better assist the NTIA in distributing $7.2 billion to improve broadband infrastructure, create public computers centers and promote sustainable broadband adoption.

The City of Philadelphia requested $35 million in the NTIA’s first round of broadband investment, as we reported in September. The NTIA has not yet announced which projects will receive funding.

Happy New Year, folks.

It’s been an exciting year for us. Though we’ll be celebrating our first birthday in February, we’ve had a chance to take part in Philadelphia’s vibrant technology community for 10 months. We’ve seen the amazing things that this community offered in 2009. Coming up on our 500th published story about this community, we’re proud to be a part of it. And we’re ecstatic to see what lie ahead.

No, Technically Philly has not started its own Mummer troupe. We do, however, want to ring in the new year by taking a look back at our top stories of 2009. Our month-by-month perspective, after the jump.

FEBRUARY

An official welcome to Technically Philly
Hey, a little self-indulgence never hurt a year-end evaluation, right? We launched this here news site in February with every intention of thoughtfully covering the disparate pockets of the technology community in Philadelphia. We had 2,250 views in our first month. In December? We grew that figure to over 18,000. And proud of it.

Chew on Philly’s tech proposals in bailout package
One of our first public service news posts, we took a look at some of the local technology-related projects proposed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors before President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

MARCH

Friday Q&A: RedLasso CEO McGowan and President O�Kane
Days after RedLasso announced a major partnership with Fox Television Studios that would bring the popular video capture and sharing service back online after it shutdown for months, we checked in with executive members of the startup at their Center City-based offices. It was one of the first in a series of more than 30 Q&A’s with local technology leaders and innovators that we compiled in 2009.

Indy Hall to expand, add educational element
A “town meeting” at Philly’s well-known coworking facility Independents Hall questioned what was in store for the 40 members of freelance digs. Population in the space was at its max, waiting lists were full and members agreed that a new, larger space would be ideal. It was planned, too, that the old space would be preserved as an educational and events space. In April, plans to move were seen through. IndyHall relocated to a 4,400-square-foot space on Third St. in Old City. Though the organization was forced to abandon its former space, membership is growing and it celebrated its second anniversary in September.

APRIL

Mashable suddenly realizes Philly is only an hour away
The event, which took place in May, was preceded by a handful of off-the-record conversations with members of the community who noted uncertainty about the New York City-founded blog hosting an event in Philadelphia territory. It was an experience that characterized where the younger portion of the scene here saw itself.

BREAKING: City Council unanimously approves cell phone driving ban
As if anyone needed an example that technology stories — even on the local level — affect broad demographics, here it was. Every cell phone user who ever drove a car suddenly had to rethink what he might do if a call came through during a trip on 95. It speaks to the breadth Philly tech stories can reach.

MAY

Google CEO Eric Schmidt weighs in on Philly’s tech future
You must have thought we were joking when we nudged you about what you would ask Google CEO Eric Schmidt if you saw him riding the El during his visit to Philadelphia in May. Though we couldn’t tell you at the time, it was our way of getting your input for a planned media event with the famed executive. The following day, Technically Philly put Schmidt on the spot about the potential for Philly to become a technology hub.

“To have a tech renaissance, you need universities, which you have here. You need good engineering programs like [Penn and Drexel]. You need a vibrant youth culture and a diverse culture. I think you have all of that criteria here,” he told us.

Philadelphia Inquirer will launch a paid content model for Web:
We broke news in May that the Inquirer would launch a paid content model before the end of the year, when we caught wind of the detail in an online-only package celebrating the paper’s 150th anniversary. Tierney made an official announcement about the decision on Fox29 a few days later. Philebrity’s Joey Sweeney pointed out that the announcement was likely to test the waters, and we’ve yet to see the outlet deploy a paywall. Sources have told us it’s not coming and this was just some posturing from Tierney.

South Philly’s Stoya adult film it girl on DOS, social media and leaving Philadelphia
One of our most popular posts – yes, sex does sell – explored local porn celebrity Stoya’s technological upbringings, her geek ties, and her use of social media to push sales. Oh, and the gal told us she was planning on leaving Philly. Tsk tsk!

City launches Web site to track stimulus spending
For a city government known for its antiquated Web presence, Technically Philly was as excited as any to see Philadelphia launch a site to track stimulus spending. It’s a wealth of information about bailout funds in the region.

IgnitePhilly packs Johnny Brendas – again
Popular event series IgnitePhilly filled Fishtown’s Johnny Brendas to capacity for the third time since it began in 2008, and we dished out awards to some of the best spots of the night. Sandwich blog Unbreaded took top honors while Two Guys On Beer received accolades for the funniest presentation of the night, and Viddler’s Rob Sandie was awarded” with pride, not prize” for the best sales pitch.

JUNE

School District of Philadelphia, among other e-waste polluting developing nations
After PBS Frontline broke that computers from the School District of Philadelphia had appeared in a Ghananian e-waste landfill, we followed up with several updates. We reported first that the school district had ordered a probe into its computer recycling program. Budding reporter Stephen Zook, who was at the time attending classes in the African nation, filed an in-depth update from Ghana, Technically Philly’s first global byline. Fox29 even followed up with the school district and interviewed Technically Philly reporter Christopher Wink about the situation.

Ten Philadelphia tech organizations that should have Wikipedia entries but don�t
Part of our irregular “Top Ten Tuesday” series, we listed a handful of tech organizations in Philly that were missing praise on the famous Wiki site, one of our popular posts of the year. Where’s the love for Avencia, University City Science Center, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jim MacMillian and others?

JULY

Friday Q&A: New Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce head Rob Wonderling
This Q&A verified that the trade organization and spokesman for the region’s business community had an inkling that technology was a chance at salvation.

Report: Philly had nation’s largest increase in VC investment in Q2
The development of a more robust and better recognized VC scene is a staple for the growth of a dozen local tech communities in the country. It’s the case in Philadelphia, too, so the signs of growth were always taken with a degree of interest.

AUGUST

TNT: The state of hyperlocal online news in Philadelphia
Technically Philly isn’t alone in Philadelphia’s universe of startup hyperlocal news sites, and we wanted the world to know it.

DreamIt Ventures Demo Day 2009: our awards
It’s no surprise to you, reader, that startups are a priority here at TP. They make up a sizable chunk of Philadelphia’s technology community, and thus, our coverage. DreamIt Ventures Demo Day took that intensity and put it into a day-long event. We handed out awards to those that stood out.

The birth of Philadelphia’s video game scene
Philadelphia has a video game development scene? You bet your thumbs it does. This report, filed by TP reporter Sean Blanda for CityPaper and co-published here, follows Videogame Growth Initiative’s push for state-backing for a stronger gaming industry in the city.

CoTweet: San Francisco scene has “distinct” advantage over Philadelphia
We were as proud as we were disappointed that Central Pennsylvania-based CoTweet, a Twitter front-end built with corporate accounts in mind, decided to move to Silicon Valley. We’d have been excited to welcome them to Philadelphia’s technology scene.

SEPTEMBER

City of Philadelphia requests $35 million in federal broadband stimulus application
It might have been the first time we knew that actual amount of broadband stimulus money that the City was requesting from the federal government, but it surely wasn’t the first time we covered the story. Since March, we filed 16 stories – more than 10,000 words – about Digital Philadelphia, City CTO Allan Frank’s vision for the city’s technology future, including a comprehensive multimedia report on the subject. Mid-December, the city announced plans to purchase the city-wide wireless network formally known as Wireless Philadelphia.

OCTOBER

IgnitePhilly 4 hosts Free Library and Mayoral Cabinet officials as VGI impresses
Ignite Philly wasn’t shy about hosting events in 2009. They hosted their fourth sold-out event in October, inviting prominent and interesting members of Philly’s tech and related communities to speak. We couldn’t help but wonder what was the next step for the presentation series.

Chris Bartlett of Gay History Wiki project
We got in-depth with Chris Bartlett, a presenter at Ignite Philly, and his Gay History Wiki project, a wiki-site developed to catalogue the history of more than 4,500 of Philly’s LGBQT community who have died from HIV/AIDS. Reporter Christopher Wink wrote a broader story about Bartlett as a cover story for Philadelphia City Paper and the New York Times later picked it up, too.

NOVEMBER

SEPTA to launch Google Transit bus routes this week, more redesign details
SEPTA made technological strides this year, announcing in November that it would include bus routes with its Google Transit data. Earlier in the year, the transit agency opened up its schedule data to third-party developers.

Startup Leaders hosts second annual Founder Factory to mixed reaction
Philly Startup Leaders held its second Founder Factory event, giving local entrepreneurs a chance to mingle with one another and to hear stories of success from some leaders in the community. No doubt a great resource for locals considering starting their own companies, some at the event questioned if the event was a successful follow-up.

BarCamp indicates that Philly is ready for next step, but will it happen?
BarCamp attendance exploded this year to more than 250, including audience members that traveled from Florida to participate. We noted that topics were more diverse and more specific, delving into important topics, like the future of Philly’s technology community. “Philadelphia tech scene is ready for its coming out party. It’s ready for other cities to view it as a destination and it’s ready to produce some quantifiable results in the language of companies and jobs,” we wrote.

DECEMBER

Comcast purchases majority stake in NBC Universal, awaiting regulatory approval
Some could argue that Comcast’s purchase of NBC Universal might be Philly’s biggest technology story of the year. There’s no doubt that it has cemented Comcast as a global leader in telecommunications and content. We’ll be following along with our weekly Comcast roundups to see what’s next.

Ten Philadelphia Web sites then and now
The most entertaining site on the Web? Internet Archive. It powered this feature comparing today’s popular local online destinations, like Temple.edu, Philly.com and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s GoPhila.com with their 1999 counterparts.

The City of Philadelphia has had a few extra days to perfect its application for the broadband stimulus grant.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced late last week that because of an influx of application uploads, the deadline was extended one week to August 20, this Wednesday, from August 14.

We reported on the City’s stimulus proposal in a long-form multimedia feature package last week.

The city hopes to nab some of $4.6 billion in broadband stimulus grants being provided by the Broadband Initiatives Program and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program set aside by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Lead by Chief Technology Officer Allan Frank, the city has developed a proposal that utilizes current city infrastructure to build and improve upon a hybrid mesh network that would connect city departments, public centers (like schools and libraries), and private institutions like businesses and universities.

The network is part of discussions that Frank calls his Digital Philadelphia vision, a conversation that he hopes will guide the next 10 years of technology innovation in Philadelphia. We first reported on Frank’s vision when he announced it at a Refresh Philly meeting in May.

Frank faces scrutiny for the vision following the failure of Wireless Philadelphia, former Mayor John Street’s initiative to bridge the digital divide with a free municipal-wide WiFi network.

One of the nation’s largest technology initiatives aimed at curbing traffic and pollution is coming to Philadelphia, according to a report from Stateline.org.

And we have plenty of traffic on I-95, which is said to handle more than 120,000 vehicles per day — as if that number had any meaning to you whatsoever.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, or PennDOT to friends, is gearing up for a $74 million undertaking that would equip 72 miles of I-95 corridor in and around Philly with intelligent transportation system installations.

The project is part of more than $257 million in cash from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which PennDOT plans to spend in Philadelphia’s five-county region, according to a department press release.

At least 22 states have requested federal funds for making their roads “smarter” by installing traffic cameras, creating express toll lanes, improving traffic signals and alerting drivers about accidents or delays ahead, as Stateline reported — all measures that are said to minimize traffic delays, thereby reducing carbon emissions. Last week, the Obama administration announced that another $1.5 billion in stimulus money could be spent on “innovative” road projects.

PennDOT’s plan will add 59 closed-circuit surveillance cameras to its network of 175 that already feed into a regional traffic control center in King of Prussia, which is manned 24 hours a day. Technicians there use the cameras to spot accidents or delays and disptach appropriate help to speed up traffic recovery.

PennDOT spokesman Charles Metzger says every five minutes of traffic disruption causes at least a half hour of delays.

The region will also get 39 new electronic signs that can display travel times, accident and emergency alerts and other messages you may or may not read. Tens of vehicle sensors and travel-time detectors are also being added and are scheduled to be finished by the year’s end. The boards, aided by these new sensors, are meant to alert motorists to delays and suggest alternate routes.

These highway technology improvements are lauded for putting more funds directly into the economy, by way of worker salaries. Just 20 percent of money for more traditional highway projects, like road paving or bridge repair, goes to payroll, according to a January analysis by the U.S. Department of Transportation. That figure is nearer to 50 percent for tech projects.

That’s not the only traffic project the feds are funding around here.

Montgomery County officials are using at least $14 million in stimulus cash to add interchange ramps near Henderson Road in Upper Merion, as KYW reported earlier this year.

A graph on recovery.pa.gov breaks down how stimulus funds will be spent in Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, Governor Ed Rendell announced plans to ensure accountability for the distribution of $16 billion that Pennsylvania will receive from the federal economic stimulus package. Gov. Rendell unveiled a new Web site to track how funds are spent, recovery.pa.gov, and said he would appoint a Chief Accountability Officer to oversee the process.

“The Web site we’re unveiling today provides a window to this process for everyone to see. The public will be able to track how every dime is spent and for what project and where. We’re committed to making this an open process for everyone,” Rendell said in a press release.

According to the release, citizens will be able to track expenditures that will be updated quarterly and provide input on how funds are invested. A sample template on the Web site shows that individual projects will be tracked by county, and provide details such as completion status, location, project schedule, dollar value of contracts, contractors, and the number of jobs created and saved. The site will be linked to Pennsylvania’s accounting system.

An example of how a project will be displayed for tracking on the State

Rendell estimates that of $9.8 billion set aside for Pennsylvania’s state and local agencies, $5.8 billion will be spent this year, as reported by the Associated Press. Of the $9.8 billion, the site breaks down how the funds will be spent in the commonwealth:

• Health Care – $4 billion
• Education - $2.56 billion
• Transportation Infrastructure – $1.4 billion
• Energy Independence – $472 million
• Other Infrastructure & Housing – $361 million
• Job Training & Other Relief for Pennsylvanians – $1.1 billion, including:
  • $425 million for Job Training/Unemployment Services
  • $347 million for State Budget Relief
  • $120 million for Crime Fighting/Victim Services
  • $116 million for Targeted Assistance to Pennsylvania Families
  • $82 million for Child Care and Head Start

The site also estimates how the economic stimulus could directly benefit citizens in Philadelphia.

• Tax relief: Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive a $400 tax credit in 2009 and 2010, and married couples filing jointly and earning $150,000 will receive $800. 506,941 individuals and households will likely qualify for the tax credits.
• Unemployment compensation – 23,800 unemployed persons in Philadelphia who qualified for unemployment compensation at the beginning of the year will receive a $25 per week increase in unemployment benefits, along with the possibility of additional benefits through the rest of the year.
• Health insurance for unemployed – Health care will be made available to individuals who are involuntarily separated from their jobs between September 2008 and January 2010. COBRA will pay 65 percent of the monthly premium for individuals earning less than $145,000 and couples earning less than $290,000. The provision could benefit 53,900 unemployed persons in Philadelphia.
• Health insurance – 478,885 low income children and adults can continue to receive health care through the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program. Federal support will also help 28,881 children and teens in Philadelphia who are not eligible for Medical Assistance.
• Food assistance – 355,219 low income individuals and families could potentially be given a 13.69 percent increase in the maximum Food Stamp benefit, effective in April 2009. Provisions also suspends the 3-month limit on assistance for many unemployed childless adults for the next 18 months.

Last Sunday we outlined Philadelphia’s “shovel-ready” tech proposals that could potentially be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and although it is still unclear what funds Philly will receive, we’re beginning to have a better picture since President Obama signed the bill.

Last week, The Morning Call reported that $101 million will be afforded to alternative energy investments through the state’s energy program. Some of that could go toward Philly’s proposals of installing 3,000 LED lamps in signalized intersections that could save the city $1 million per year in energy costs. It could also be funneled into plans for a Residential Solar Energy loan fund.

There’s good news for Health Camp Philadelphia, who followed up on our proposal post with hopes that electronic medical records could become a reality for medical institutions throughout the city. According to Modern Healthcare, $19.2 billion has been earmarked in the bill for health information technology. Gov. Ed Rendell spoke at the National Governors Association’s annual winter meeting on Saturday, and expressed support for long-term datelined provisions, such as the switch to electronic records. Some health care systems, like Albert Einstein in Philadelphia, have made in-roads on their own for an electronic switch, as we reported.

State public school districts, colleges, and universities will be able to tap into more than $1 billion being set aside for Pennsylvania, including $25 million to update school technology. And according to the Inquirer, $138 million of Pennsylvania’s education fund is specifically for the Philadelphia School District, which will receive between $40 million and $50 million for low-income children, $24 million in special education money, and an additional portion of $39 million up for grabs for state K-12 and higher education in the state.

President Obama warned mayors across the nation Saturday that he will keep a watchful eye on stimulus spending and “call out” mayors that spend money on pork projects. While merited, it is to be seen how the warning will affect Philadelphia’s project plans laid out in early February by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Rendell backed Pennsylvania’s mayors Sunday on Fox News, saying that he expects to put people to work on Pennsylvania’s “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects by May.

If one project stands out from the rest as one that could face President Obama scrutiny, it’s Philly’s proposal for a $115,000,000 expansion of the Central Library. While 300 new computers with high-speed Internet access would be a great advantage for the Central Library’s crowded computer lab, this project seems less pressing than what many struggling branches across the city face.

We’ll keep you updated on any Philly technology related stimulus news as it comes.

Unemployment rate increases by county are shown in yellow and circles represent jobs created by the stimulus package. Credit: Off the Map

President Obama is expected to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act this week after Congress passed the historic bill on Friday. Previously, Obama has promised to cut pork from the bill and only fund necessary and promising projects by appropriating money to encompassing federal grant programs.

StimulusWatch.org has been keeping an eye on the bill, allowing citizens to vote on the projects that they think will best impact their cities. Have a look at Philadelphia’s proposals.

There are a number of projects that show a heightened desire to improve technology and green energy initiatives in Philadelphia.

• Upgrades and expansion of the Central Library
  Description: The construction of a flexible, modern addition to the Central Library would generate $76.7 million in labor income, flow $134 million back into the economy, and increase city tax revenues and visitor spending by an estimated $4.3 million. The project would attain Silver LEED certification. After completion, services to job seekers and entrepreneurs would be expanded, including access to 300 computers with high-speed internet access, and help with resumes.
  Program: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  Cost: $115,000,000
  Jobs created: 1,351
• 3,000 LED lamps in signalized intersections
  Description: Replace incandescent bulbs and decade-old LED lamps with new LED Lamps for 3000 signalized intersections. The replacements would save the city $1,000,000 per year in energy costs.
  Program: Energy
  Cost: $6,000,000
  Jobs created: 94
• Residential Solar Energy Revolving Loan Fund
  Description: Residential Solar Energy Revolving Loan Fund would result in the initiation of solar projects at 500 residences in city of Philadelphia.
  Program: Energy
  Cost: $4,000,000
  Jobs created: 100
• Upgrade the digital public safety radio system
  Description: Upgrade the digital public safety radio system and implement new underground infrastructure to accommodate the system.
  Program: Public Safety
  Cost: $60,000,000
  Jobs created: 110
• Enable access to public safety radio system in Subway system.
  Description: Enabling access to public safety radio system in the subterranean areas of the city, including subways.
  Program: Public Safety
  Cost: $30,000,000
  Jobs created: 500
• Electronic health records across the prison and linked health systems
  Description: Purchase and deployment of electronic health records across the prison and linked health systems
  Program: Public Safety
  Cost: $15,000,000
  Jobs created: 176
• Purchase of 40 Hybrid Buses
  Description: The SEPTA Board awarded a contract to New Flyer of America, Inc. for the purchase of 400 hybrid (diesel/electric) buses, with an option to purchase 20 additional buses each year for 4 years.
  Program: Transit
  Cost: $17,850,000
  Jobs created: 678.3
• VSS Fiber Plant
  Description: Laying network of fiber to enable technologies such as video surveillance cameras.
  Program: Public Safety
  Cost: $40,000,000
  Jobs created: 125

We’ll keep you updated on what funds are appropriated to these projects when the information is available.