MCH has created an open group on LinkedIn. Click here to join the group and become part of the conversation about how the economic stimulus package creates B2B sales and marketing opportunities.

The White House has released details about the state-level impact of the newly signed economic recovery package. The report estimates that the combination of tax relief, safety net enhancements, and discretionary government spending will “create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years,” adding that the “Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector.”

• OVERVIEW ON AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT
• IMPACT OF AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT ON WORKING FAMILIES
• EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS BY STATE
• EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
• EDUCATION FACT SHEET
• ENERGY FACT SHEET
• HEALTH CARE FACT SHEET
• INFRASTRUCTURE FACT SHEET

Kirk Chritton, Marketing Director
MCH, Inc.
kirkc@mailings.com

The stimulus bill has — as expected — changed in many ways in its trip through the Senate. Because the support of a small handful of moderate Republican senators will be required for final passage, the version of the bill that becomes law is likely to look much more like the Senate version than the House version. The Senate’s changes may have significant importance for marketers who are trying to align their product development and promotional strategies to the emerging legislation.

• The largest cut, $40 billion, was in the fund to stabilize state budgets. Had this money remained intact, many states with substantial budget gaps would have been made whole, and the state budget crisis that MCH tracks in our BudgetAware reports would have been greatly reduced in importance. Without the original funding, many states will still struggle to meet the requirements of their balanced budget requirements. MCH is currently developing the next release of the BudgetAware Bulletin, which will measure the current and expected budget pressure in each state.
• Preventative health initiatives had been targeted to receive $5.8 billion in the House bill. This money was likely to funnel down to a wide variety of public health agencies, clinics, and social service agencies.
• School construction funds totaling $16 billion were removed from the bill. That will reduce the potential opportunities for construction contractors and for the marketers who provide the furniture, fittings, and other products that are needed to stock new classrooms.

The list of items cut is long, but the overall scope of the spending is still large (more than $280 billion), leaving many opportunities for marketers who can align their offers with the initiatives of the bill.

On February 18th, I’ll join MCH President John F. Hood to present a free webinar (register here) in which we’ll review the final legislation. We will present an overview the opportunities and urgent action items for companies who hope to benefit from the stimulus spending. If you have questions about the funding, you can reach me at kirkc@mailings.com.

Over the past several months, we’ve all spent time discussing the election, the economy, and the general business climate. This white paper provides B2B marketers with an overview of the major effects of the economic crisis; the areas of the business market that are most likely to hold their own, or even thrive during 2009; changes on the horizon; and actionable steps that can be taken to adapt in this fluid environment. Click here to download