More often than not, federal stimulus is turning out to have not been enough for recipients. Construction on an “expansive” facility for AppalCART, Watauga County mass transit, has been interrupted due to financial shortfalls. Following the current best-practices business model:
The delay has caused AppalCART to go through its budget for legal services, request an extension for its federal stimulus money and push back its ever-changing opening date.
AppalCART used its own funds to purchase the property and do preparatory groundwork, but the $5.5 million construction tab was covered by porkulus. The project is reportedly 90% complete, but lacking important finishing touches. The centre was to be LEED certified, but legal costs are mounting.
