As part of a nationwide “recovery summer” tour, President Obama’s Administration will hold events throughout the country to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the “stimulus”) and Washington’s plan for the road ahead. Below are some facts to consider about Arkansas:

Arkansas’s share of the $862-billion “stimulus” bill awarded: $1,728,880,000
(=0.9% of the $202 billion that has already been given to states).

Arkansas’s share of the population = 0.9%

Arkansas’s unemployment rate was 6.8% when the “stimulus” was enacted in February 2009; today it is 7.5%.

Arkansas’s 7.5% unemployment rate is lower than the national average of 9.5%.

The number of workers in the Arkansas fell from 1.18 million when the “stimulus” was enacted, to 1.17 million currently. This translates to 12,600 jobs lost.

For FY2011, Arkansas is one of four states that is not projected to have a budget shortfall.

Arkansas’s number of foreclosed homes was 1,616 when the “stimulus” was enacted; today that number has grown to 2,202.