President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on February 17, 2009.

Designed to stimulate the US economy and create jobs, the Act includes $308 billion earmarked for federally-funded infrastructure projects such as highways and bridges. The goal is to create jobs as quickly as possible, but the majority of spending will actually occur over the next two years.

While the ARRA presents opportunities for government contractors, it should be noted that the Act also includes funds for additional enforcement of prevailing wage regulations. The Department of Labor has already hired additional investigators. This is just one of the reasons it's important to work with a partner that has experience in both federal and state prevailing wage regulations.

While construction remains depressed in other areas, competition is increasing for public works projects. With the market becoming so crowded, it's crucial to gain every possible advantage and cut every possible cost when submitting your bid. Implementing a prevailing wage benefit plan saves you money on payroll burden, making your bids leaner and more competitive.

For more information on the ARRA, visit http://www.recovery.gov or http://www.stimuluswatch.org