State official visits stimulus projects here

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Jeffrey Simon, director of the Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Office, visited Martha’s Vineyard Tuesday to see stimulus projects funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awards. State Rep. Timothy Madden accompanied him.

Their visit began with a look at the Southeast Mass Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, with tours of the Correllus State Forest and Long Point Reservation in West Tisbury, to observe the project’s impact.

The Nature Conservancy received $500,000 in stimulus funds for the project, which is part of a collaborative fire management effort between the Trustees of the Reservations, the Massachusetts Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation – Fire.

Mr. Simon and Mr. Madden also visited the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, which received $55,000 in stimulus funds, and the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribal Housing Authority, which received $1.9 million.

Gov. Deval Patrick named Mr. Simon, a real estate executive, to lead an economic recovery infrastructure program on February 10, as the state was preparing to to distribute much of the Bay State’s share of a $789 billion federal stimulus package.