The struggling U.S. economy is getting a $787 billion shot in the arm from a stimulus package designed to keep people working and money flowing. In the Chicago area, we're likely to see the effects of the plan when we maneuver past roadwork and when we look at our paychecks.

Two months after President Barack Obama signed the stimulus bill, the package is beginning to take shape. More than $50 billion in grants and projects have been approved, said a White House official who declined to be identified.

In Illinois, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, "You're going to see an enormous number of people building roads and bridges, starting as soon as the weather breaks."

But the biggest slice of the stimulus plan has been more than $24 billion in grants to state Medicaid programs to help keep afloat state health insurance plans for the poor. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has approved grants of $492 million to community health clinics around the country, said Nick Pappas, a spokesman for HHS.

Below are links that provide more detailed information on the stimulus bill, including information on direct stimulus opportunities for individuals and businesses.

WEBSITES WITH MORE INFORMATION

Official White House web site tracking the use of stimulus funds
www.recovery.gov/

Tax Incentives and Grant Opportunities in the Stimulus Bill

IRS Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html?portlet=6

National Association for Home Builders
www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

Small Business Administration Website
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ca/la/index.html

U.S. Department of the Treasury
www.ustreas.gov/

Illinois State Treasurer
www.treasure.il.gov/

The Federal Government website for finding and applying for federal grants
www07.grants.gov/

Other Government Sites with Economic Stimulus Information

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
www.hud.gov/recovery/

U.S. Department of Energy
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/

U.S. Department of Labor website
www.dol.gov/

State of Illinois - Illinois Recovery
http://illinois.gov/recovery/

Other Organizations offering Economic Stimulus Information

The National Council of Nonprofits website
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/stimulus

National League of Cities
http://www.nlc.org/

THOMAS, the Library of Congress' website
http://thomas.loc.gov/