Bright Spots: Cowboy Stimulus Package
In Lamar, Colorado -- cowboy country -- the wild ride began months ago.
Everyone wondered whether the local economy would bite the dust.
So 15-year-old Susie Lira never imagined she'd find work at the summer rodeo.
"I was like, I've got a job. My first job," she said.
That work was made possible by Lamar's new job corps. It's an effort to fix up the community and its tattered economy as CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports.
For more information on State Stimulus Plans, click here
City administrator Ron Stock had the idea right after Christmas, when four downtown stores closed. This agriculture town of 8,500 needed help, and they needed it quick. "If they didn't get help this spring, I was afraid they wouldn't be here this fall," he said.
So little Lamar made its own stimulus package by creating city rebate vouchers, to urge local spending.
This spring, anyone spending $300 in Lamar got a $30 voucher from the city, good in any local store.
Kyle Reed is doing his part for the local economy. He bought a new pickup truck, and used the voucher to pay for his new shoes.
In all, Lamar's voucher program cost the city about $25,000. But it created an estimated $360,000 in new spending.
Lamar drew on its cowboy roots: self-reliance. Instead of waiting for Washington to send in the cavalry, this community decided to ride to its own rescue. And they're not alone.
Nineteen states have launched their own stimulus packages. In Lancaster, California a local voucher program helped the auto mall sell 800 cars. Carrolton, Texas put 24 people to work sprucing up the city.
Just as Lamar started a job corps for teenagers.
"Working for the city and the community, it was awesome," said Lira.
A new enthusiasm -- that's the biggest change here. A belief they've helped their economy land on its feet.
