Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.8 Million to Boost the Cultural Tourism Economy in the Village of Kake, Alaska

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.8 million grant to the Kake Historical Cannery in the Village of Kake, Alaska, to rehabilitate the Cannery facility to help support the region’s growing tourism industry. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 138 jobs, retain 51 jobs, and spur $2.6 million in private investment.

“The Trump Administration is committed to generating new opportunities for Americans in their communities,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This project will not only attract more people to the unique Kake region, but will also create jobs for over a hundred local Alaskans.”

The adaptive reuse of the Kake Historical Cannery will assist the region in capitalizing on tourism by allowing local tribe members to showcase and sell cultural arts, crafts, and food to visitors. The investment will support the necessary mechanical, safety, and water-related infrastructure. It will also include two restroom facilities and a commercial kitchen. This project works in conjunction with a previous EDA investment in the Village of Kake’s waterfront dock, which was constructed to support small cruise ships.

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.