FORT BRAGG, N.C. - If Fort Bragg is a fine-tuned machine, then money is the oil that helps keep the machine running smoothly.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Fort Bragg received about $95 million at the Directorate of Public Works and $4.2 million at the Directorate of Logistics.

"It gave us an opportunity to take care of Soldiers and Families," said Greg Bean, DPW director.

The money has been used in various ways across the installation.

Fifty-two of the 62 projects to be funded by the stimulus benefits have already been awarded, said Bean. The remaining projects will be awarded by the end of the month.

Some of those projects include repair and resurfacing of Simmons Army Airfield and Mackall Army Airfield; renovation of the Faith Barracks for 4th Brigade Combat Team; restoration of two fire stations, one at SAAF and fire station No. 1 at Knox Street and Honeycutt Road; renovation of Frederick Physical Fitness Center; and improvements to roads and traffic safety, energy plants and motor pools.

The money that was used for infrastructure repairs at the airfields was needed and quickly put to use, said Darryl Butler, civil engineer, DPW.

"Through the years, they (airfields) were designed to carry lightweight aircraft and the mission was not as uptempo as it is now; so therefore, the missions and the aircraft that those two facilities are having to accommodate have caused a rapid rate of degradation," Butler said. "The money had to come from somewhere in order to get it fixed and get it fixed quickly so they could stay serviceable to the Army."

Other infrastructure accommodations include the addition of a parking lot at the Soldier Support Center. The lot adds about 200 parking spaces, Butler said.

"We expect more parking to be built in that area," he said. "We will be going after more stimulus money if it becomes available to increase parking for Soldiers, dependents, retirees and employees."

The parking increases were not the only improvements made at the SSC.

Changes are also being made to make the building more energy efficient, said Scott Boulton, DPW architect.

"We're trying to make the envelope, the exterior skin, more energy efficient by beefing up exterior insulation, making it airtight so you don't have leakage; cold air getting into the building in the winter time or hot air getting into the building during the summer time," Boulton said.

Some future energy improvements include reduction of energy consumption by monitoring usage through utility monitoring and control software.

The software regulates the cooling and heating systems of buildings, said Jennifer McKenzie, DPW energy manager. It results in a 20 percent energy savings.

Stimulus benefits will fund the renovation of Old Bowley School to support Forces Command move to Fort Bragg, Boulton said.

Some of the glass walls will be replaced with a new, more energy-efficient window system. Also, wiring for modern communications will be implemented, he said and flexible, modular furniture will be used rather than private offices.

All of Fort Bragg's stimulus money can't be spend in one place or by one directorate. The Directorate of Logistics has use for the more than $4 million it received.

Tim Shea, Transportation Division chief, DOL, said the installation purchased 14 hybrid shuttle buses with the funds it received.

The biofueled buses reduce emissions and the number of vehicle miles traveled on Fort Bragg and allow for better land use through alternative transportation, Shea said. The buses also are wheelchair accessible, which helps Fort Bragg meet specifications of the American for Disabilities Act.

Had the buses not been purchased with the stimulus funds, they would have had to be purchased through a lease agreement with the General Services Administration, Shea added.

Fort Bragg functions as a city, he said. With federal budget reductions, the funds have helped lower the cost of managing the city. The stimulus benefits also allow Fort Bragg to build towards the future in anticipation of base realignment and closure changes.

Bean said receiving the stimulus benefits has been tremendously important to Fort Bragg.