MONTICELLO - Federal economic stimulus programs may help local government with capital projects. Yet, in a period of a strangling economy, some projects send shivers through the business sector.
The main street through downtown Monticello is being torn up this summer to replace water and sewer lines that are reaching a century old.
"That scares me more than the economy," said Jim Schubert, owner of the M&M Cafe on North Main Street.
Schubert bought the little cafe early last year and opened March 11, "when the economy was still not as bad as it became later," he said.
He closed a restaurant and bakery in Mount Horeb to make the move.
"I downsized myself," he said, "(because) downtown (Mt. Horeb) was frailing, among other things."
The cost to operate the M&M Cafe and live in the home attached to it is as much as his Mt. Horeb business alone, he said.
Street construction this summer in Monticello will occasionally disrupt traffic flow, parking and water service, none of which is good for business at the M&M Cafe.
Businesses are being asked to have a rear entrance available for customers, but M&M Cafe, located just off the bridge and above the river bottom, doesn't have a rear access for customers.
"They're going to have to park across the street (in a municipal lot) and walk across," Schubert explained.
Schubert is worried some customers, including bicyclists from the Sugar River Trail, won't want to deal with the torn-up street to get their morning coffee and lunches.
Now he's hoping hungry construction workers will buy their lunches at the M&M Cafe and make up for the loss of business.
Monticello will be bonding for the $1.5 million reconstruction project and getting a reduced interest rate through the Build America Bonds program. The program, created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, gives tax credits and federal subsidies to reduce the cost of borrowing for state and local governments.
The ARRA, signed into law Feb. 17, 2009, had three immediate goals: create and save jobs; spur economic activity and invest in long-term growth; and give more transparency and accountability in government spending.
The Web site, www. recovery.gov., dedicated to tracking the ARRA money, shows Green County and its municipalities - not including school districts - have received less than $400,000.
Green County's money came from the Department of Health and Human Services for immunizations (about $8,300) and the Department of Education for education and early intervention for infants and toddlers (about $257,000).
No jobs were noted on the Web site, but the $257,400 goes to start and staff an Early Head Start program, through Dane County Parent Council, Inc. (DCPC), provider of Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Dane and Green Counties. The money will allow DCPC to hire two full-time family advocates and serve 22 more children in Green County.
Albany Housing Authority received $42,544 and noted three jobs would be saved, and the Monroe Housing Authority received $115,210 and noted 1.75 jobs would be saved.
Lafayette County picked up $1.1 million, with no job creation being noted. Its major grants came from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education.
The main street through downtown Monticello is being torn up this summer to replace water and sewer lines that are reaching a century old.
"That scares me more than the economy," said Jim Schubert, owner of the M&M Cafe on North Main Street.
Schubert bought the little cafe early last year and opened March 11, "when the economy was still not as bad as it became later," he said.
He closed a restaurant and bakery in Mount Horeb to make the move.
"I downsized myself," he said, "(because) downtown (Mt. Horeb) was frailing, among other things."
The cost to operate the M&M Cafe and live in the home attached to it is as much as his Mt. Horeb business alone, he said.
Street construction this summer in Monticello will occasionally disrupt traffic flow, parking and water service, none of which is good for business at the M&M Cafe.
Businesses are being asked to have a rear entrance available for customers, but M&M Cafe, located just off the bridge and above the river bottom, doesn't have a rear access for customers.
"They're going to have to park across the street (in a municipal lot) and walk across," Schubert explained.
Schubert is worried some customers, including bicyclists from the Sugar River Trail, won't want to deal with the torn-up street to get their morning coffee and lunches.
Now he's hoping hungry construction workers will buy their lunches at the M&M Cafe and make up for the loss of business.
Monticello will be bonding for the $1.5 million reconstruction project and getting a reduced interest rate through the Build America Bonds program. The program, created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, gives tax credits and federal subsidies to reduce the cost of borrowing for state and local governments.
The ARRA, signed into law Feb. 17, 2009, had three immediate goals: create and save jobs; spur economic activity and invest in long-term growth; and give more transparency and accountability in government spending.
The Web site, www. recovery.gov., dedicated to tracking the ARRA money, shows Green County and its municipalities - not including school districts - have received less than $400,000.
Green County's money came from the Department of Health and Human Services for immunizations (about $8,300) and the Department of Education for education and early intervention for infants and toddlers (about $257,000).
No jobs were noted on the Web site, but the $257,400 goes to start and staff an Early Head Start program, through Dane County Parent Council, Inc. (DCPC), provider of Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Dane and Green Counties. The money will allow DCPC to hire two full-time family advocates and serve 22 more children in Green County.
Albany Housing Authority received $42,544 and noted three jobs would be saved, and the Monroe Housing Authority received $115,210 and noted 1.75 jobs would be saved.
Lafayette County picked up $1.1 million, with no job creation being noted. Its major grants came from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education.