Region got $2.3 billion in stimulus last year

Harris County gets $1.7b

Steve Hawley, May 19, 10.

The eight-county Houston-Galveston region received $2.3 billion in stimulus funds last year, with significant amounts going to education, transportation, and energy, according to a county-by-county map compiled by the Texas Comptroller’s office. The map does not yet include data from the first quarter of 2010, and the figures do not include any tax breaks.

Overall, the region was allocated almost $870 million in education funding, $355 million for transportation, and $300 million for energy, as well as $376 million for unspecified business contracts. The region also received $61 million for housing and community development, of which $51 million went to Harris County and $8 million to Galveston County.

Harris County was the largest single recipient of federal funds, getting over $1.7 billion. By comparison, Tarrant County (Fort Worth) received $796 million, Dallas County (Dallas) received $760 million, and Bexar County (San Antonio) got $630 million. Travis County received over $10.8 billion, but that figure is distorted because Austin is the state capital, and all funds allocated to state agencies technically were appropriated to Austin. Harris County received significantly more stimulus money than any county besides Travis County.

Per capita, Galveston County, which was devastated by Hurricane Ike in 2008, received the most stimulus money in the region - $1,180 per resident. Chambers County was allocated over $600 per resident, and Harris County got $420 per resident.

The full numbers are below:

Brazoria County: $73.7 million ($238 per capita)
Chambers County: $19.1 million ($608 per capita)
Fort Bend County: $82.4 million ($148 per capita)
Galveston County: $338.2 million ($1,179 per capita)
Harris County: $1.72 billion ($423 per capita)
Liberty County: $12.1 million ($160 per capita)
Montgomery County: $70.5 million ($157 per capita)
Waller County: $10.6 million ($290 per capita)