PATERSON – New Jersey Schools Development Authority CEO Kris Kolluri toured the Roberto Clemente K-1 Center construction site today to highlight how New Jersey’s school construction program is creating private-sector jobs under Governor Jon S. Corzine.

The school construction program is central to the state’s effort to mitigate the effects of the national recession. For 2009, the SDA has accelerated projects to advance the Governor’s Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan to spur the economy and generate jobs.

The program created or saved 4,035 jobs in September, Kolluri announced at today’s event. These figures include the creation of 437 new private-sector jobs. They also include the preservation of 2,253 jobs that may not have existed if not for the overall school construction program. An additional 1,345 are estimated to have been created/saved indirectly.

"The school construction program is vital to our recovery initiatives," Governor Corzine said. "It is helping New Jersey to navigate through this national recession by creating quality jobs that sustain our hard-working families. By doing so, we are simultaneously spurring the economy and creating a better learning environment for our children."

Kolluri stated, "Experts tell us that while signs point to economic recovery, it will take some time for the jobless rate to return to pre-recession levels. We are pleased that the school construction program can play such an important role during these difficult times, and we will continue to implement the Governor’s economic plan."

Capital Plan projects worth $1.4 billion are being advanced into preliminary or full-scale construction in SDA Districts in 2009.

Under the Corzine administration, the SDA has completed 144 major construction projects overall: 127 in SDA Districts and an additional 17 in Regular Operating Districts (RODs). All told, the SDA has invested $5.293 billion in projects since January 2006, generating an estimated 45,800 jobs and impacting more than 45,000 students.

Paterson will see continued job creation through the SDA program. Four additional Paterson projects are funded through the SDA’s new Capital Plan. The SDA has committed approximately $227 million to projects in the city, which will create or save about 1,970 jobs over the duration of construction.

The Clemente project entails the conversion of an 8,000-square-foot, one-story structure into a new kindergarten facility for 84 students. It is scheduled to open in January 2010.

Since the Governor’s speech a year ago calling on state agencies to invest in infrastructure to generate jobs, the cumulative SDA jobs reports show the creation of 4,870 new private-sector jobs. Construction jobs account for 45 percent of the total; demolition and environmental remediation represent 27 percent; and jobs related to furniture and technology installation come to 18 percent. The remaining jobs are in design consulting (8 percent) and construction management (2 percent).

Jobs reports represent a snapshot of how many workers are directly employed by private firms on SDA projects in the construction, design, construction management and other related fields.