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Sunnyvale, Calif., Launches Economic Stimulus Program
by Cherie Duvall
 The economy in Sunnyvale, Calif., is looking bright as the city unveils a major program that promises to bring millions of dollars in projects to reality.
Last month Sunnyvale Mayor Anthony Spitaleri and City Manager Gary Luebbers launched Sunnyvale Works!, a program that will fund more than $60 million in capital improvement projects on a highly-accelerated schedule and is expected to create more than 600 jobs.
Where many government projects can take a year or more to move through the approval and contracting process, Sunnyvale has made a commitment to get the projects started as quickly as possible. Thus far 40 projects, including repairing bridges, enhancing streetscapes and utilities, rebuilding large digester tanks at a water pollution control plant and doing concrete work, are in the works. The first of the projects will be awarded contacts next month.
“Because of the way Sunnyvale prepares its budgets, using a 20-year budgeting forecast, we are in a unique position to bolster our local economy,” Luebbers explained. “We are going to take that money that would normally be spent over the next half-dozen years, and we are going to move those projects to the here and now.”
Sunnyvale Communications Officer John Pilger painted a bright picture of the benefits Sunnyvale Works! will bring to the city. In addition to dramatically helping the job market, there will be a trickle-down effect that will benefit local merchants and the city as workers shop locally, buy gas and eat in Sunnyvale restaurants, and residents will see projects get done faster.
He also noted that the city will receive an additional benefit based on the price reductions currently seen in construction bids from companies eager to keep their own employees working. Sunnyvale expects that many of the projects will end up costing as little as 50 percent of the original construction estimates, leveraging the city’s funds to be able to do even more projects.
“Now is the time to do these capital projects if you can,” said Pilger. “… There are elements that a lot of cities could emulate, and it really is a great example of a local government not waiting for Washington to do it all for us. We’re making it happen locally, where the jobs will be.”
Luebbers explained that city staff would be shifted to ensure there are enough people to be able to review plans and perform required site inspections.
The money that is expected to be spent will come from dedicated capital improvement project funds, which cannot be used for any other purpose. The money will be augmented by grants and federal stimulus funding.
“We are going to move on this quickly, and we are going to get these projects going right now,” Luebbers said. “Instead of waiting years for some of these jobs, we will see some of them starting within the next six weeks. … Cities have to change the way they do business.”
Luebbers believes that Sunnyvale Works! demonstrates that economic recovery does not rest solely on Washington, but can be fueled by local government as well. The fact that federal stimulus dollars will be available to augment Sunnyvale’s funds makes the program an ideal federal-local marriage designed to provide a quick, significant, positive impact to the local economy in a matter of just a few weeks.
“I think it was Rahm Emanuel who said ‘a crisis is a terrible thing to waste,’” said Luebbers. “We weren’t going to sit around and waste it.”
Details: To learn more about Sunnyvale Works!, go to http://SunnyvaleWorks.inSunnyvale.com, call (408) 730-7535 or send an e-mail to communications@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us.
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