TALLAHASSEE (AP) – There’s nothing like a few billion dollars to make a governor smile.

And Florida’s Charlie Crist was beaming Monday when he met with some agency heads to discuss the federal government’s stimulus package that should help Florida lawmakers meet budget demands over the next three years despite the state’s floundering economy.

“I couldn’t be more pleased on how this turned out,” Crist said, adding the measure Congress passed Friday came “with great gratitude from Florida.”

Crist directed his agency heads to line up their projects so they can get started as soon as the first dollars begin flowing of more than $12 billion over the next three years from the stimulus package President Obama is expected to sign into law this week.

“This may in fact be a three-peat,” Crist said, noting the money will help Florida plug its budget hole for the fiscal year ending June 30 as well as the next two years.

“I am committed to making sure that Florida is prepared to use the funds quickly and efficiently,” Crist said. “We remain focused on directing these dollars toward Florida’s infrastructure, work force training and educational and Medicaid needs.”

Education is slated to get about $3.5 billion, while more than $2 billion will be spent on transportation projects and economic development. Local governments are to receive $5.6 billion, Crist said.

The governor asked his education commissioner, Eric Smith, to follow up on a letter Crist sent over the weekend to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan seeking a waiver to ensure it receives federal education funds.

Florida doesn’t meet a provision in the stimulus package that requires states to spend at least as much of their own money on public schools this year as they did in 2006.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” Crist said Monday.

Crist, who campaigned for fellow Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign, joined President Obama last week in Fort Myers in support of the Democratic president’s stimulus plan.

Crist also thanked state lawmakers Monday for extending the deadline for his budget request until Friday, just 11 days before the 2009 legislative session begins. Crist can now work in some of the federal dollars into his budget recommendations.

Florida lawmakers fear that the worsening economy could lead to a budget shortfall of up to $6 billion, but Crist’s budget director, Jerry McDaniel, predicted the stimulus money will shore up Florida’s situation.

“We’re looking at a lot of new jobs for Florida,” said Crist, noting the transportation money alone would create 28,000 jobs. “This will be a bridge to Florida’s brighter future for when our economy starts to turn around.”