Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.6 Million for Infrastructure Improvements to Support Commercial Fishing in Rhode Island
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
December 11, 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 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management of Providence, Rhode Island, to make critical port infrastructure improvements needed to support the region’s commercial fishing industry. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 22 new jobs, retain 72 jobs and spur $1.2 million in private investment.
“President Trump has been clear about the urgent need to upgrade American infrastructure from coast to coast,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The completion of this project will help drive new opportunities to the local commercial fishing industry in the Port of Galilee.”
The project supports the construction of critical infrastructure at the Port of Galilee in Narragansett, including the reconstruction of piers, repair to bulkheads and electrical upgrades. These improvements will improve the long-term viability of the regional commercial fishing industry and the local businesses they support, setting the conditions to create new jobs in the community.
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.