Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests to Establish a Business Center in East Montgomery County, Texas

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) of New Caney, Texas, to construct an office building on its existing industrial park to facilitate job creation and retention. The EDA grant will be matched with $375,000 in local funds.

“The Trump Administration is continuing to help rebuild Texas, facilitating the state’s recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “By expanding the office space available in New Caney, East Montgomery County businesses will be able to grow and employ more of the local workforce.”

“I thank Secretary Ross and the Trump administration for their continued support of the Texas communities affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Governor Abbott. “Since day one, the federal government has worked closely with the state of Texas and local leaders to help rebuild our communities and provide economic development assistance. This $1.5 million in grant funding is another critical step forward that will help boost the economy and create more jobs for Texans impacted by the storm.”

“Texans are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, and many of those affected are small business owners,” said Senator Cornyn. “I'm pleased that the Trump Administration has chosen to help local businesses and put Montgomery County further down the road to economic recovery.”

“After Harvey, Texas showed our resilience in the face of setbacks and our determination to come back stronger than ever,” said Congressman Brady. “Texas is the nation’s number one exporter, and this new investment in Texas’ future will not only help the local residents, but the overall economic health of our country. I thank the Administration for their continued support, and I look forward to seeing the growth and opportunity that this grant will bring to our workers and community.”

The project will provide 30,000 sq. ft. of new office space, which will be subdivided into smaller offices to lease space to up to four businesses.

This project is funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) (PDF) (PDF), in which Congress appropriated to EDA $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, wildfires, and other calendar year 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.

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.