Montgomery, AL – Alabama's counties with the worst unemployment were left out of the first highway projects funded by the federal stimulus money in the state.
The Alabama Department of Transportation on April 10 let bids for projects funded by stimulus money in 10 Alabama counties. There were no projects on the list for Wilcox County. The unemployment rate in Wilcos is highest in the state at 22.5 percent.
Dallas and Chambers counties each have 18.1 percent unemployment and were not on the first list of projects.
The 10 projects let on April 10 included one in Shelby County. That's where unemployment is a lowest in the state 6.3 percent.
Alabama DOT spokesman Tony Harris said the first projects were those considered most urgent.
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