OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) - The Department of Energy says the government's economic stimulus program created or saved more than 3,800 jobs in Oak Ridge.

The Knoxville New Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/Ricyzq) the Energy Department's Oak Ridge office received about $1.9 billion from the 2009 Recovery Act. 1 of the biggest projects was environmental cleanup.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory received about $500 million for projects, including the construction of a new Chemical and Materials Science Building.

Because much of the work was performed by subcontractors and spread out over four years, there haven't been large spikes in employment followed by layoffs.

University of Tennessee economics professor Matt Murray said the stimulus has had a positive short-term impact in Oak Ridge, and the construction of new facilities likely will have a long-term impact.

Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com

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