shovel-ready

Definitions

1. ready for immediate commencement of excavation and construction.
2. Describing a project which is a candidate for economic stimulus spending, the one having a more immediate impact on the economy as opposed to the project requiring a great deal of time that must elapse for architecture, zoning, legal considerations or other factors before labor can be deployed on it.
   broadly

Examples

“LCDC officials emphasize that the need⟳ for shovel-ready industrial sites in this case outweighs the goal of preserving prime farmland.”

“With an eye to the imminent federal budget, Toronto business and civic leaders are set⟳ today to name⟳ $4.8-billion in "shovel-ready" projects that would stimulate the flagging local economy.”

“He wants the money injected into major infrastructure schemes and claims there are "several shovel-ready schemes just awaiting funding".”

CEFR level