While federal stimulus money has just about dried up, Gloucester and Mathews counties benefitted from the funding while it was available. The school systems especially were beneficiaries of the government funds, as were various scientific studies at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and regional programs for the poor, elderly and mentally disabled.

In addition, several Gloucester businesses were awarded government contracts that were paid for with funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

Various officials in Gloucester and Mathews recently discussed what the ARRA funds were used for in the two counties. This week, we share information about stimulus funding in Mathews County, next week, Gloucester, and in week three, regional programs.

Mathews schools

Dr. David Holleran, superintendent of Mathews County Public Schools, said that ARRA funds most likely saved a couple of teaching positions in Mathews, while school system accountant Kristi Anthony ...