In politics, ashovel readyconstructionproject (usually larger-scaleinfrastructure) is where planning andengineeringis advanced enough that—with sufficient funding—construction can begin within a very short time. The term was popularized by then-U.S. president-elect Obama in 2008.
In 2010, then-U.S. president Obama declared he had come to realize that there is "no such thing as shovel-ready projects."[1][2]
History
editThe term was first used in print in 1995.[3]
Writing forThe Washington Post,writer Manuel Roig-Franziasardonicallysuggested that the phrase did not exist and had never before been used until President-ElectBarack Obamaused it during an interview withMeet the Presson 6 December 2008.[4][5]Obama used the phrase to describe infrastructure projects that were ready to immediately receive stimulus funding of theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[6]
Later, other commentators suggested the phrase denoted projects which were able to begin construction within a specific time-frame ofthree or four months[7]on ause it or lose itbasis.
Examples
editIn the US
editHaving originated in theUnited States,the term is now used generally in reference to projects which are candidates foreconomic stimulusspending: money put into a shovel ready project will have a more immediate impact on the economy than money spent on a project on which a great deal of time must elapse for architecture, zoning, legal considerations or other such factors before labor can be deployed on it.[citation needed]
InIowa,theSeven County Corridor Alliance(Benton County,Cedar County,Iowa County,Johnson County,Jones County,Linn CountyandWashington County) established aShovel Ready Certification Programto certify projects asshovel readythat will beadded to a local, regional and statewide inventory of sites with similar qualifications and will be strongly marketed.[8]
TheGeorgia Department of Transportationhas established specific criteria projects must meet to be consideredshovel readyincludingNational Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) clearances and relevantproperty acquisitionrequirements.[9]
In Australia
editInAustralia,the term is also used in relation to stimulus funding, specifically funding programs like theBuilding the Education Revolution(BER) program.[10]In 2009, the termshovel-readywon theMacquarie DictionaryWord of the Yearaward.[11]
In the UK
editIn theUnited Kingdom,the phrase has been used on a number of occasions byVincent De Rivaz,the Chief Executive ofEDF Energy,in the context of a proposed new nuclear power station inSomerset.[12][13][14]
As in the rest of the United Kingdom, inScotland,the phrase is used in a similar context. For example,Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment,Alex Neil,used the term in March 2012 to describe the status of 36 infrastructure projects on a list handed to thegovernment of the United Kingdomfor potential funding.[15]
References
edit- ^"Obama:" No Such Thing as Shovel-Ready Projects "".CBS News.13 October 2010.
- ^PETER BAKER (12 October 2010)."The Education of President Obama".The New York Times.Retrieved18 November2021.
He realized too late that "there's no such thing as shovel-ready projects" when it comes to public works
- ^"Shovel-ready", Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ^President Obama onMeet the Pressto describe projects for his stimulus plan during aMeet the Pressinterview -[1]
- ^Obama Brings "Shovel-Ready" Talk Into Mainstreamby Manuel Roig-Franzia,Washington Post(8 January 2009)
- ^"The Obama Buzzword That Hit Pay Dirt", Washington Post
- ^"Shovel ready" projects aim to get money working fastby Robert Gavin,Boston Globe(20 January 2009)
- ^Shovel Ready Iowa:Archived2012-01-07 at theWayback MachineProgram Overview (2012)
- ^Georgia Department of Transportation FAQ:What does “shovel-ready” mean?(30 July 2010)[dead link]
- ^Springs plan "shovel ready",The Mercury(4 July 2012)
- ^"Shovel-ready" wins Macquarie's word of year,Herald Sun(3 February 2010)
- ^Hinkley Point is "shovel ready"
- ^Q193 reply "We are shovel ready"
- ^"The project at Hinkley Point C is now" shovel-ready "
- ^Shovel ready projects(Press Release),Alex Neil(9 March 2012)