Biden tells Ohio stimulus program helping economy

By THOMAS J. SHEERAN Associated Press Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden told an Ohio audience that the federal economic stimulus package is helping to revive the U.S. economy and has helped stabilized the financial markets.

Biden spoke Monday inside a Cleveland Hopkins Airport firehouse as hard-hat crews worked on the start of a $16 million project funded by stimulus dollars.

He says major U.S. banks were facing collapse and economists were predicting a possible depression when President Barack Obama took office in January.

Biden says there is still a lot of work to do to solidify the economy, but that the airport project is an example of what Washington is doing.

He says the project to expand the taxiway will ease gate congestion and improve airport efficiency.

The project will employ about 200 people and be completed by mid-2010.