The economic stimulus plan is on many a mind, and local leaders are still trying to determine how the $789 billion federal spending package could affect the county.

Meanwhile, area officials are readying their offices and projects to be in position to use any stimulus money that comes the county’s way.

In December, the Newberry County Water and Sewer Authority Board voted to begin actions to prepare the agency to promote local projects for consideration.

”A lot of details are not out there,” Newberry County Water and Sewer Director Arnold Lingle said of the distribution plan for the spending bill.

”The majority of the funds in the stimulus package will be delivered through existing programs,” said Economic Director Teresa Powers. “Many programs will rely on existing formulas for distributing the funds.”

For instance, the county had already received a $1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to start phase one of the infrastructure plan for the Mid-Carolina Commerce Park at Highway 773.

”The county will certainly pursue funding to build additional infrastructure at the Mid-Carolina Commerce Park,” said Powers, adding the Economic Development Administration is allocated $150 million in the stimulus package, which will be distributed through its competitive grant process.

Likewise, the City of Newberry is ready to jump on the bandwagon.

”It is too early to tell the full potential, but we will aggressively pursue money for capital projects,” said Newberry City Manager Eric Budds.

One area the city will request grants or negative interest loans to finance is the rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The project is ”shovel ready,” said Budds. Construction could start in 60 days. The estimated cost of the project is $19 million, with the city applying for $16 million in loans. If the project could receive a matching grant of $8 million, the city would apply the new project money to reduce the amount its utility holders would have to pay for the project through increases in wastewater fees.

Other projects Budds would submit for funding consideration are the work at the water treatment plant to reduce stress on the plant during droughts and peak usage, rehabilitation and new housing construction projects, roads and sidewalk projects and improvements to the city’s technical infrastructure such as fiber optic and wireless networks.

”We will not pursue any project that is not already on the drawing boards,” said Budds.

The county may be able to receive additional funding for road projects, adds Powers. The stimulus package outlines $27.5 billion to go to the Federal Highway Administration.

”These funds will be distributed by existing formulas, and from what I have heard should include county-by-county allocations in South Carolina,” she said.

The national stimulus package also aims to prevent teacher layoffs and educational cuts by providing $53.6 billion to states and school districts.

”We will be getting guidelines and funding amounts from the state,” said School District spokesman Hugh Gray. ”As of now, the state legislature is seeking answers from the federal government as to how these funds will be administered.”

Senator Ronnie Cromer said yesterday that legislators were printing out the lengthy bill and beginning to review the plan.

Cromer added that the school district may see some aid in building projects.