Editor 's note : CNN affiliates report on where job seekers are finding work across the country and how those looking for employment are coping with the situation . Road work is increasing across the nation in the wake of the economic stimulus plan . ( CNN ) -- During President Obama 's prime-time news conference Tuesday , he talked about the economic stimulus plan designed to `` jump-start job creation and put money in people 's pockets . '' The plan injects $ 787 billion into the nation 's economy , and Obama said in his opening remarks that the money had saved the jobs of teachers and police officers . `` It 's creating construction jobs to rebuild roads and bridges , '' he added . In Oklahoma , 40 companies have bid on 15 new projects with the state 's Department of Transportation , according to a report on KWTV . Bobby Stem , a spokesman with the Association of General Contractors , said the $ 380 million in projects will put a lot of Oklahomans to work and help the state 's economy . `` We 're weeks away from people going out and putting on brand new boots and starting their new careers in road and bridge building , '' he told News9 . See a U.S. map of stimulus grants for schools , water and sewer projects » . Damon Markwell of Markwell Paving Company said he will hire 10 percent more workers if the state accepts his bid . Read the full report on KWTV . Midwest : Developers say complex would generate 3,000 jobs . An Illinois state senator is asking for a bond measure that would help pay for a retail and entertainment complex in a St. Louis suburb , according to KSDK . Developers claim the project would cost $ 1 billion and bring 3,000 jobs to the city of Glen Carbon . Many of the jobs would be in construction . The proposed University Town Center would include a mix of retail , restaurant and entertainment businesses and be 2 miles from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville . Watch the report on KSDK . Northeast : Ohio call center needs 300 more representatives . A company is looking to expand its work force in Ohio by about 33 percent , hiring 300 workers during the next few months . TeleTech will be holding four job fairs but requires that job seekers who want to attend register online . `` In the service industry , business is growing despite the economic downturn , '' a TeleTech representative told WKYC . The customer representatives will make $ 9 an hour with raises after seven weeks of training and six months on the job . Read the report on WKYC . Southwest : Truck-driving academies full of students . In Amarillo , Texas , along one of the major transportation routes in the United States , Robert Mathews is teaching people to drive long-haul and other types of trucks . The program at Amarillo College 's Truck Driving Academy lasts six weeks -- three in the classroom , three on the road -- and costs $ 2,500 . `` I read the newspaper every day , every day I 'd find four or five places that needed a truck driver , '' laid-off oil worker Ben Touchstone said . `` And all of them required a [ commercial driver 's license ] . '' Mathews said you can drive more than trucks with a new license . `` Once you have the CDL , you can drive a school bus , a Greyhound bus . You will have license to do that , '' he told KFDA in Amarillo . Watch video of the report on NewsChannel 10 . And truckers are in high demand because of the city 's location . `` This is the I-40 corridor , '' he said . `` Everything goes past here from coast to coast . '' Midwest : Quick oil change spots hiring . The folks at Jiffy Lube are seeing increased business , thanks to more people holding on their cars for a few extra years . Jim Rodgers of Jiffy Lube said , `` They want to maintain those vehicles and keep them in tip-top condition . Rodgers said Jiffy Lube is hiring entry-level positions up to general manager jobs in the Kansas City , Missouri , area . He said it needs more workers during the summer . `` We 're also gearing up nationwide to open probably another 100 stores in the next three to five years . '' Watch the interview with Jim Rodgers on CNN affiliate KSHB .
Oklahoma to spend $ 100 million of stimulus money for road projects . Proposed retail expansion in Oklahoma would mean thousands of jobs . Call ##ahan has 300 positions to be filled in next few months . Truck - driving academy opens path to jobs in six weeks .