Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in subsidies from state and local government, according to a new report by the public interest group Good Jobs First.

The group combed public records and newspaper files to document more than 240 cases where public funds, tax write-offs and other government subsidies helped Wal-Mart open 160 retail stores and 84 distribution centers in 35 states.

The average Wal-Mart store received $2.8 million in public subsidies while its distribution centers (warehouses) each received an average $7.4 million in government assistance, the study found. Public aid to Wal-Mart included financing through tax-exempt bonds, construction of access roads, installation of utilities and tax abatements.

Wal-Mart is famous for creating low-wage, no-benefit, non-union jobs and for using its enormous buying power to crush local business competitors. The full report (which also describes how citizens have organized to block public aid to Wal-Mart) is available at: www.goodjobsfirst.org