The state of Vermont plans to spend $6 million on improvements at its state parks this year, bucking a national trend of cutbacks and service closures by cost-conscious states.
The funding is part of $109 million capital construction bill which includes $39 million in federal stimulus money for a variety of projects, including state building improvements and school construction. It was signed into law Wednesday by Governor Jim Douglas
The work includes a new forensics laboratory, a vault for the state archives, water and sewer projects and 150 infrastructure improvements at the state parks.
Douglas says work on the capital projects will create hundreds of construction and engineering jobs, at a time when thousands of Vermonters are out of work.