The federal government is providing money that will help create several Chicago construction jobs.

The economic stimulus will provide enough funds for the City of Chicago to resurface more than 31 miles of streets, which will in turn create new jobs and sustain existing positions. The city expects to receive a total of $86 million in federal stimulus money for highway infrastructure projects.

The exact cost of the planned projects is unknown, but could be up to $50 million. The remainder of the money will be used to complete four major street reconstructions, including Chicago Avenue from Laramie to Grand, Congress Drive from Wells to Michigan, LaSalle Drive from Clark Street to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Park from 51st to 57th.

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Some Chicago government jobs could be saved as the city takes measures to address its budget deficit.

Mayor Richard M. Daley recently proposed that the City of Chicago cut non-union personnel costs by $10 million and save $2.6 million through management efficiencies. These moves would help the city’s budget deficit, which has increased to $96 million during the first four months of 2009.

“We expect that our revenue deficit will continue to grow, and that it could total more than $250 million to $300 million by the end of our fiscal year in December,” Daley said in a press release. “We will continue to take needed steps to manage our way, month by month, through these difficult times.”

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At least two large companies are cutting advertising costs, which will result in the loss of hundreds of Chicago advertising jobs.

Philip Morris, one of the country’s leading tobacco companies, recently announced that it plans to cut back on advertising. The company said it plans to scale back on spending for all brands except Marlboro, including Basic, Parliament and Virginia Slims.

According to an article by the Chicago Sun-Times, this could mean the loss of at least 300 advertising jobs. At ad agency Leo Burnett, between 400 and 500 people in Chicago and overseas work in part on Philip Morris advertising, making it one of the company’s biggest accounts. The company has not yet said exactly how many jobs in Chicago will be affected.

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