Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Build a Workforce Training Facility in Sylva, North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Jackson County, North Carolina, to help build a new workforce training facility. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 236 jobs, retain 127 jobs, and generate $1.25 million in private investment.

“President Trump is committed to curing the neglect of American workers in communities across the country,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This new training facility will give Sylvia and the surrounding region the capable and qualified workforce it needs to fuel future growth.”

This investment will construct a workforce training facility called the Health Sciences Occupation Building on the main campus of Southwestern Community College. The facility will provide a home for programs leading to healthcare employment opportunities in the area and will also house a clinic for students to gain hands-on experience. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southwestern Commission. EDA funds the Southwestern Commission 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.