August 9 - 13, 2021

EDA announced eight investments from August 9-13, 2021, totaling $13,829,639, which is matched by $4,031,189 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $11,674,740 in six Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic that will help create 2,796 jobs, save 793 jobs, and leverage $659,100,000 in private investments; (2) $79,599 in one Economic Adjustment Assistance project to help communities design and implement strategies to adjust or bring about change to their economy in response to structural damage to their underlying economic base; and (3) $2,075,300 in one Public Works project to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 48 jobs and leverage $29,700,000 in private investment.

• $11,674,740 in six Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects, matched by $3,117,489 in local investments, as follows:
  • $5,146,898, matched by $700,000 in local investment, to the City of Hoonah, Hoonah/Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon County, Alaska, to support the City of Hoonah with upgrading the Hoonah Marine Industrial Center’s (HMIC) Cargo Dock, a multi-use marine transportation space servicing freight and goods distribution for the Cruise Ship Industry, fuel delivery, commercial fishing, and other commercial operations within the community. Improvements at the HMIC Cargo Dock will include installation of a 130-ft long sheet pile bulkhead cargo dock, three steel pipe pile breasting dolphins, an 80-ft long elevated catwalk and upgrading an existing concrete dock face by installation of sea cushion fenders. The project also includes the upgrade of an existing gravel loading ramp that is only accessible during high tides and by front loading barge and landing craft vessels, which substantially limits the vessels currently capable of distributing freight and goods to the community. Once completed, the project will improve the HMIC cargo dock’s accessibility and functionality, which will help to strengthen the regional economy and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 4 jobs, save 264 jobs, and leverage $66,100,000 in private investment.
  • $2,588,800, matched by $647,200 in local investment, to the Town of Shelburn, Shelburn/Sullivan County, Indiana, to support the Town of Shelburn with the construction of a new water main transmission line and related infrastructure to connect the City’s existing water tower with the Sullivan County Community Hospital Business Park. The new infrastructure will address fire suppression requirements in the Park and enhance the Town’s ability to attract and retain businesses that rely on adequate water infrastructure and fire suppression capacity. Healthcare service providers in the Park are critical partners in the Town’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will be critical in the Town’s resilience to future economic shocks. Once completed, the project will increase economic growth and diversification and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help save 408 jobs.
  • $2,000,153, matched by $1,285,453 in local investment, to the City of Huron, Huron/Erie County, Ohio, to support the City of Huron with the reconstruction and enhancement of Sawmill Parkway in Erie County, Ohio, a designated Opportunity Zone. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and the larger region experienced devastating job losses and the loss of revenue from tourism-based economic activity. Once completed, the project will attract new employers and diversify the economy, which will help the region with recovery efforts from the pandemic and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 321 jobs, save 41 jobs, and leverage $403,000,000 in private investment.
  • $1,212,588, matched by $303,147 in local investment, to Bernalillo County, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, New Mexico, to fund the installation of approximately 40,000-50,000 feet of fiber optic and conduit to support the broadband needs for the west side of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The installation will occur predominately along Central Avenue from Altrisco Boulevard to Coors Avenue in Bernalillo County to help build infrastructure to attract businesses to the area and provide significant support for local communities. Once completed, the project will support more resilient industrial and warehousing jobs to help restart the local economy after the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate losses in the event of other economic disruptions, which will help the region overcome the lack of adequate, reliable broadband service to help diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 2,400 jobs and leverage $190,000,000 in private investment.
  • $484,349, matched by $121,201 in local investment, to the Northwest Florida State College, Niceville/Okaloosa County, Florida, to fund the purchase of upgraded equipment to be used for training health and public safety professionals to better diagnose and treat conditions caused by COVID-19 and future pandemics in Niceville, Florida. The project will expand its health professionals and emergency response training and education programs to help meet the growing healthcare industry demands for highly skilled and qualified health care professionals who are trained on industry standard equipment. The expansion will ensure graduates have up-to-date equipment required for current training needs and to prepare students for the workforce, which will assist the region in becoming more resilient and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and provide access to higher-wage jobs. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 61 jobs and save 45 jobs.
  • $241,952, matched by $60,488 in local investment, to the Vermont State Colleges, Montpelier/Washington County (Project: Lyndonville/Caledonia County), Vermont, to fund the renovation and re-purposing of several different spaces including office, storage, and a computer lab area at the Lyndonville campus to establish an interactive teaching facility for a collaborative Health Sciences program. The new Clinical Nursing educational facility will provide a hands-on learning experience through the creation of a Skill Lab, Simulation Lab, a Control Room and supplies area. Once completed, the project will assist the region with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, support the health care industry, bolster job creation, attract private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 10 jobs and save 35 jobs.
• $79,599 in one Economic Adjustment Assistance project, matched by $20,000 in local investment, as follows:
  • $79,599 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $20,000 in local investment, to the Muskegon Area First, Muskegon/Muskegon County, Michigan, to support Muskegon Area First, a local economic development organization, with creating two Industrial Parks Master Plans on behalf of the City of Muskegon Heights, Michigan. The plans will focus on the creation of the Industrial Park East and Industrial Park West to assist the City in its recovery from the loss of nearly 200 jobs because of the recent local coal-fired power plant closure. Once completed, the project will allow Muskegon Area First to more effectively market available parcels for future industrial and economic development, which will create and retain jobs, advance economic resiliency, and attract private investment to an area that has been impacted by the decline in the coal industry.
• $2,075,300 in one Public Works project, matched by $893,700 in local investment, as follows:
  • $2,075,300, matched by $893,700 in local investment, to the City of Sikeston/Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities, Sikeston/Scott County (Project: Sikeston/New Madrid County), Missouri, to support the City of Sikeston and the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities with developing the South Industrial Park to address the local and regional need for industry growth and job creation in the area. The new infrastructure will help existing businesses and allow for business expansion within the area, which will support job creation, attract private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 48 jobs and leverage $29,700,000 in private investment.