Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.6 Million to Improve Water System Infrastructure and Reliability in Dayton, Ohio

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.6 million grant to the city of Dayton, Ohio, to purchase and establish new electric generators needed to ensure continued business operations in Montgomery and Greene counties. The EDA grant will be matched with $900,000 in local investment.

“The Trump Administration is committed to helping American communities impacted by natural disasters obtain updated infrastructure to attract and grow businesses,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This project will add redundancy to the Dayton Water Supply System so that a minimum level of service is maintained at all times in the event of power loss from hazard or disaster.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally-developed disaster recovery and resiliency strategies,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This EDA investment will allow Dayton to address the local and regional need for resilient public water and water treatment facilities by making structural and electrical improvements to increase reliability in the event of future tornadoes and flooding.”

“Water and wastewater infrastructure are the backbone of a strong economy,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Building resilient infrastructure is a smart investment for continued service and economic development. We’re appreciative of this federal grant from the EDA that will support businesses in Montgomery and Greene counties.”

“This $3.6 million federal grant to purchase and establish new electric generators is great news for the city of Dayton as well as Montgomery and Greene counties,” said Senator Rob Portman. “I want to thank Secretary Ross for this investment to improve water system infrastructure and reliability in the Dayton area which will ensure continued job creation and opportunities for hard-working Ohioans.”

“I formed a Water Quality Evaluation Panel after the Memorial Day tornadoes in 2019 exposed gaps in our water quality assurance,” said Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10). “As we saw last year, Dayton’s water supply is dependent on power. Now, with this $3.6 million for new electric generators for our water system, the Miami Valley can be more certain of water accessibility during natural disasters. The Water Panel and I are continuing to work to ensure Dayton’s water quality and this $3.6 million grant is a huge step in the right direction for our community.”

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.