Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million to Build a Manufacturing and Training Facility in Scappoose, Oregon
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
July 30, 2018
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to the Oregon Institute of Technology of Klamath Falls, Oregon, to build a manufacturing and training facility in Scappoose. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 978 new jobs, retain 512 jobs, and spur $692 million in private investment.
“Under the Trump Administration, workforce development and training has taken on a new urgency as many American communities feel that they have been left behind,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This new facility in Scappoose will provide the innovative education the local labor force needs to compete and thrive in the global economy.”
“This is great news for Oregon,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I am thrilled to see that the Economic Development Administration recognizes the potential of the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center. OMIC will help students and workers learn the skills they need to work in today’s economy, where advanced manufacturing is increasingly technical, while also advancing research and development that helps industries compete and thrive. I’ve been proud to advocate for federal funding for this innovative and collaborative project, and I look forward to its continued growth.”
This investment will help retrofit, furnish, and equip an existing 34,000 square-foot building to create a facility for manufacturing research and training. The development will attract new businesses to the region, increasing the competitiveness of existing metal manufacturers in the area as well as creating new jobs for the resident population.
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.