Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.6 Million to Support Agricultural Produce Processing and Farmer Training in Hawaii
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
September 20, 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million grant to the Waianae Community Redevelopment Corporation of Waianae, Hawaii, to establish a new agricultural produce processing and farmer training facility. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to help create 200 new jobs and spur $200,000 in private investment.
“President Trump and his Administration are diligently working to help empower our nation’s entrepreneurs so that they can grow, thrive, and create new jobs in their local communities,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The new produce processing and farmer training facility in Waianae will help local entrepreneurs and workers develop the skills necessary to compete in the global economy.”
The project will increase the economic capacity of the local agriculture sector, which is critical to the region. The availability of improved economic assets can make it possible for entrepreneurs and small business enterprises be more operationally efficient, which can lead to more employment opportunities for the region's workforce.
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.