Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $875,048 to Equip Biotech and Makerspace Facility in St. George, Utah

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $875,048 grant to Dixie State University (DSU) of St. George, Utah, to purchase equipment and support networking activities for the launch of DSU’s Innovation Plaza. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 260 jobs.

“Dixie State University has worked to pursue a strategy designed to create new economic opportunity through innovation,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord. “This project will help allow for the expansion of locally-based enterprises by providing them with the tools they need to grow and thrive.”

Innovation Plaza will boast a 10,000 square-foot laboratory for biotechnology, medical, and environmental training research. It will also house a 6,000 square-foot entrepreneurial makerspace to create a hub for skills training, with a focus on expanding biotechnology innovation in the region. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Five County Association of Governments. EDA funds the Five County Association of Governments to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

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.