WASHINGTON (March 6, 2010)—Congressman Ben Chandler met with Central Kentuckians today at a job fair put on by the R.J. Corman Railroad Group.  The job fair was planned after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $12.9 million from the Recovery Act for a railroad project—the Appalachian Regional Short Line Project—which will build and repair railroads, create local jobs, and provide additional economic resources for Kentucky communities.

“These are good-paying jobs right here in Central Kentucky that can’t be shipped overseas,” Chandler said. “The Recovery Act is at work today in Lexington helping hundreds of out-of-work Kentuckians find employment, updating our infrastructure, and strengthening Central Kentucky’s economy.

Today’s job fair put on by R.J. Corman sought railroad construction workers for the Appalachian Short Line project on the Central Kentucky Lines, the Bardstown line, and the Memphis Line. The Appalachian Regional Short Line Project is part of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants program under the Department of Transportation. The project is slated to attract employers, provide construction jobs, stimulate economic growth, and save fuel.
 
On the state level, Kentucky applied for this project with four other states—Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee—to receive the funding. Kentucky will receive $12.9 million of the $17.5 million announced.  Chandler spearheaded an effort on the federal level with the Kentucky delegation in Congress to support the project.
 
“Not only are we creating construction jobs with these Recovery Act funds,” Chandler said, “but we are updating Kentucky’s infrastructure, and through this railroad project, we are opening up our smaller Kentucky towns to more industry and more business opportunities. I truly believe that this will result in real, long-term economic growth for the Commonwealth.”

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