As the $819-billion economic recovery bill approved by the House on Wednesday makes its way through Congress, officials 3,000 miles away have their eyes on a Santa Monica Pier upgrade and other projects that have been awaiting funding.

A $5-million plan to replace 78 wood piles that support the pier is among the hundreds of California projects that stand to benefit from the federal stimulus measure. In fact, the first major initiative of the Obama administration could deliver as much as $63 billion to the state.

And some would go into Californians’ pockets: 12.5 million of the state’s residents are expected to benefit from a tax break of up to $500 per individual and $1,000 per couple, according to the Center on Budget and Policy and Priorities.

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