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A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce
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Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests Approximately $21 Million to Support Economic and Job Growth in 11 States

GRANTEES EXPECT PROJECTS TO CREATE MORE THAN 2,500 JOBS AND GENERATE $505 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Wednesday, September 25, 2013


WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $21.1 million in grants to support economic development projects in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. The projects are expected to create more than 2,500 jobs and attract $505 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Obama administration is committed to supporting critical business infrastructure for growth and economic competitiveness,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA grants announced today will help implement economic development projects that aim to boost job creation and sustainable economies in 11 states throughout the country.”

The $21.1 million in EDA investments announced today include:

  • $1 million to Dothan-Houston County Airport Authority, Inc., of Dothan, Alabama, to make roadway and water system improvements to the Dothan-Houston County Airport that will help grow the region’s aerospace sector by accommodating an aircraft maintenance and inspection business. The project is expected to help create 300 jobs and generate $7.5 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $1.8 million to the city of Delano, California, to help build a rail spur to connect the city with an industrial park and increase commercial activity that will lead to greater employment opportunities. 

  • $3 million to the city of Imperial, California, to provide infrastructure to support the development of the Alliance and Innovative Regional Center. The center is an EB-5 green card investment initiative to promote economic growth, improved regional productivity, job creation, and increased domestic capital investment. The project is expected to help create more than 640 jobs, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $3 million to the city of Mt. Shasta, California, to make water infrastructure improvements that will expand the city’s capacity to support a new water bottling plant and other business development to help diversify the local economy. The project is expected to help create 60 jobs and generate $20 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $1.8 million to the county of Yuba, California, to make water system improvements needed to expand the Yuba County Airport Industrial Park and accommodate future growth in the manufacturing sector. The project is expected to help create 150 jobs, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $900,000 to the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency of Miami, Florida, to rehabilitate a former historic church to accommodate the newly expanded City of Miami Hospitality and Culinary Institute. The facility will expand training opportunities for workers in the hospitality sector and is expected to help create 139 jobs, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $1.2 million to the Avoyelles Parish Port Commission of Simmesport, Louisiana, to make water infrastructure improvements needed to serve the Avoyelles port and industrial park. The improved port facilities will provide a convenient stopping point for barge traffic with connections to major ports throughout the country and will help facilitate global trade via the Gulf of Mexico. The project is expected to help create 65 jobs, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $500,000 to LaSalle Parish Police Jury of Jena, Louisiana, to reconstruct Pinehill Road to open access to a two mile industrial corridor that will help LaSalle Parish and the town of Jena maximize opportunities to attract private investment, including companies involved in the timber and energy sectors. 

  • $1.9 million to the city of Jonesburg, Missouri, to provide rail, water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure in support of the development of a 186-acre industrial site and planned manufacturing facility. The project is expected to create 100 jobs and generate $100 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates. 

  • $1.5 million to the Rochester Institute of Technology of Rochester, New York, to renovate a former downtown community bank building for use as the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship. The center will foster and assist business creation and growth, particularly in high-growth and transformative sectors and will be a focal point for public-private partnerships and collaborative regional innovation. 

  • $300,000 to the Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center of Choctaw, Oklahoma, to help develop long-term economic development plans and increase capacity to support area firms and entrepreneurs in Eastern Oklahoma County, which has been impacted by a number of natural disasters over the last ten years. 

  • $300,000 to the city of Moore, Oklahoma, to hire a disaster coordinator to manage disaster assistance at the federal, state, and local levels and to develop strategies to ensure the success of rebuilding efforts in the wake of the devastating tornado that hit the region in May. 

  • $1.5 million to the Redevelopment Authority of Easton Pennsylvania, Easton, Pennsylvania, to help construct public infrastructure in support of the redevelopment of the Simon Silk Mill site. The redeveloped Brownfield site will support business and job growth in key regional clusters including the creative arts sector. 

  • $1 million to the city of Florence, South Carolina, to make water system improvements to ensure the continued operation and planned expansion of Honda of South Carolina, the major employer in Florence County. The project is expected to help retain 600 jobs, create 65 jobs, and generate $27 million in private investment. 

  • $475,000 to South Plains Community College of Levelland, Texas, to help build the South Plains College Plainview Technology Center, which will expand the college’s capacity to provide training in industrial manufacturing, welding technology, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, construction trades, and other areas. The Center is expected to train up to 500 new students each year. 

  • $935,900 to Cedar City, Corporation of Cedar City, Utah, to make airport infrastructure improvements at Cedar City Regional Airport to support an aerospace manufacturer and other businesses that will open the region to potential foreign direct investment and increased exports, creating 1,000 jobs and generating $350 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.