Stimulus funds create jobs at Baystate

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) - The man in charge of stimulus funds for the state was in the area touring local projects.

Jeffrey Simon's first stop was at Baystate Medical Center, the hospital teamed up with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission on a program to give those with special needs job training.

So far sixteen people have been trained; eight are now working at the hospital.

Jeffrey Simon from the Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Office told 22News that "One of the things that is so exciting to see is when entities like Baystate and others use it to try out different programs and different ways of doing things that then will be sustained well after the stimulus program is gone."

Statewide the program used 6 million dollars in stimulus funds.