Stimulus Plan Gives First Aid to Buildings

Economists, bankers, traders and the broader public will judge the success of President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus bill by how fast it pushes the nation out of recession.

Facility executives will naturally judge the bill by what it does for real estate and buildings.

Though federal agencies have not finished the administrative rulemaking necessary to spend stimulus dollars, the picture is already starting to take shape. Those hoping for a massive spending program to finally clear away the nation’s backlog of deferred maintenance and green the existing building stock will be disappointed.