Oregon Public Broadcasting

Governor Ted Kulongoski flew into Redmond Tuesday, to check out one of the first transportation projects to come from the federal stimulus money.

If the project stays on track, sixteen blocks of downtown Redmond will be repaved and remodeled by next year.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

The biggest chunk of the $4 million project comes from the federal stimulus package.  Local officials say the project will create more than 100 jobs during the construction phase.

Stimulus critics say the jobs are temporary, and complain that the contracts aren’t guaranteed to local or even American companies.

Redmond has already witnessed such criticism – a central Oregon contractor complained after an $80 million deal for a new high school was awarded to a foreign builder.

Governor Kulongoski says the legalities of the bidding process prevent local favoritism.

Ted Kulonogoski: “I always think there’s an advantage of getting local contractors. But they bid and there’s all these requirements. You have to do that, it’s just the way it is.”

Construction is scheduled to start in August.  Redmond leaders say more jobs could accompany a revitalized downtown.