CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- President Barack Obama's massive stimulus plan to create jobs and put the country back to work becomes reality in Charlotte next week.

Work will begin on widening a portion of N.C. Highway 51 from Pineville to the South Carolina line. It is the first stimulus-funded project to start in the Charlotte area but it will not be an economic boon to the Charlotte company that won the contract.

Blythe Development on East Westinghouse Boulevard won the $5 million contract, but the sign on the door says Blythe is not presently hiring.

"It just helps us not layoff more people," said Frank Blythe.

He explained Blythe Development had a workforce of about 750 last summer, but when the economic downturn hit the construction industry, the company had to lay off employees and now has a workforce of between 450 and 500. 

"For our industry it is kind of a bandage on the problem," said Blythe, referring to the stimulus program that was supposed to restart America's economy. "I wish there was more of it. It would create more jobs and long-term jobs is what this country needs."

Work on the project will start on Monday and is expected to be completed late next year.

"We are happy to get the project and keep our people employed," Blythe said.

The one-mile section of Highway 51 from Downs Circle in Pineville to the South Carolina state line will be widened from two lanes to four. It's slated to be finished by November 2010.