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Frederick, Md. - While Washington hashes through a bailout plan to save the American economy, one local company is taking things into its own hands by giving employees their own bailout check.

When employees of Metropolitan Steel heard there was a financial meeting scheduled, they started to get nervous, but what came instead was a welcome relief.

"I thought he was gonna tell us that we were letting a few people go. Everyone was worried oh man there's a 12 o'clock meeting, whats this about we're gonna go over financials of the company," said employee Erick Webb

But instead, the company announce they were handing out a $600 check for everyone.

"You don't owe me anything for it. It's not a loan. It's not going to be taxed. It's yours. Take it and spend it," said Rick Hill.

Metropolitan Steel's president Rick Hill came up with the idea. He started saving money when he noticed the economy going south over a year ago and decided the cash wasn't doing anyone any good sitting in a bank account.

"Just put the money back to the workers and let them put the money back in. That's the best stimulus package I can imagine," said Hill.

"This is just unbelievable. I mean, totally unexpected," said employee Paul Fuhrmann.

Fuhrmann was overwhelmed with gratitude and ready to do his part in putting the funds to work. "It's not like I'm going to throw this in the bank. I have full intentions on utilizing that, go out to dinner maybe buy a new pair of work boots and stimulate Frederick."

With 50 employees, it's a payout of thirty thousand dollars in total. It's a lump sum Hill realizes is hard for small businesses to part with.

"It's scary when they're telling you you cant borrow money, when they're telling you you can't make your payroll, when they're telling you all this negative information, it makes you want to stash it away and hoard money," said Hill.

But he says the initial sacrifice is worth it to get people spending again in hopes other companies will follow suit. "If everybody in the country did it we'd have a lot of money flying around, but it's a good place to start you have to start somewhere," said employee Philip Berkheimer.

Just about every employee NewsChannel 8's Jackie Congedo spoke with told her they were planning on spending the money, rather than saving it.

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