Grant

December 9 - 13, 2019

EDA announced 26 investments from December 9-13, 2019, totaling $7,462,104, which is matched by $10,713,880 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $1,009,574 in five Economic Adjustment Assistance projects 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 that will help create 302 jobs, save 600 jobs, and leverage $11,000,000 in private investment; (2) $5,262,530 in four Public Works projects to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 407 jobs, save 9 jobs, and leverage $213,000,000 in private investment; and (3) $1,120,000 in 17 Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
- $1,009,574 in five Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $417,393 in local investments, as follows:
  - $395,820, matched by $98,955 in local investment, to the City of Waseca, Waseca/Waseca County, Minnesota, to fund the hiring of an economic recovery coordinator to create a three-year strategic plan that will help recovery efforts from the impact of a disaster that caused business closures and catastrophic job losses in the City of Waseca, Minnesota, a designated Opportunity Zone. The coordinator will collaboratively work with regional stakeholders in developing a comprehensive set of recovery activities with specific projects that correlate with the city’s recovery goals, which will identify alternative employment opportunities, develop job skilled trainings classes, and create other resources for individuals negatively affected by business closures. Once implemented, the plan will help establish a resilient workforce, strengthen the regional economy, attract private investments, and create jobs. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 200 jobs, save 200 jobs, and leverage $5,000,000 in private investment.
  - $220,000, matched by $220,000 in local investment, to Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Piscataway/Middlesex County, New Jersey, to support the New Jersey Big Data Alliance with advancing critical data-driven technologies in Cumberland County and the cities of New Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey. This project offers training courses in big data, advanced computing, and artificial intelligence that is geared to help companies with increasing productivity and competitiveness. Once completed, this project will promote entrepreneurial development, support innovation in industry clusters, train the workforce, and create job opportunities throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 54 jobs and leverage $1,000,000 in private investment.
  - $203,754, matched by $50,938 in local investment, to the Region Nine Development Commission and the City of Waseca, Mankato/Blue Earth County, Minnesota, to fund a feasibility study to provide the Region Nine Development Commission with determining the viability of a new Waseca Area Manufacturing Resource Center in Waseca County, Minnesota, a designated Opportunity Zone. The study will provide a combined in-depth operation and economic market analysis that will reveal key insight into necessary equipment, programming, and technical support that can maximize the region’s value in the manufacturing industry. Once completed, the study will diversify the local economy, increase private investment, and create jobs throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 48 jobs, save 400 jobs, and leverage $4,500,000 in private investment.
  - $120,000, matched by $30,000 in local investment, to 3SCORE, Inc., Chico/Butte County, California, to fund a market and economic analysis study to assess and identify investment opportunities in the counties of Tehama and Glenn, California. Once completed, the study will provide a framework for enhancing economic development in designated Opportunity Zones, which will help create jobs and sustain the local economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help leverage $500,000 in private investment.
  - $70,000, matched by $17,500 in local investment, to Amador County, Jackson/Amador County, California, to fund the hiring of a consultant to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) that will identify opportunities to improve the economy in Amador County, California. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
- $5,262,530 in four Public Works projects, matched by $9,106,487 in local investments, as follows:
  - $2,000,000, matched by $6,690,000 in local investment, to the Fort Fairfield Utilities District, Fort Fairfield/Aroostook County, Maine, to fund the replacement of an existing 60-year old wastewater treatment facility with a new 27-million-gallon wastewater lagoon treatment plant, operations building and pump station in Aroostook County. Once completed this project will be essential in supporting a local starch and potato processing plant with preserving jobs, creating employment opportunities, attracting private investments, and strengthening the regional economy. The grantee estimate that this investment will help create 4 jobs and save 9 jobs.
  - $1,647,058, matched by $1,098,039 in local investment, to Clarke County and the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Thomasville, Grove Hill/Clarke County, Alabama, to fund infrastructure improvements at the North Clarke Industrial Park located in Clarke County. The project will construct a railroad spur, install a fire protection water tank, and build a sanitary lift station to serve a new lumber mill and to enhance the marketability of the timber industry. Once completed, the project will promote manufacturing and green end-products, create jobs throughout the region, and provide long-term sustainable economic growth. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 125 jobs and leverage $188,000,000 in private investment.
  - $891,072, matched by $594,048 in local investment, to Colleton County, the City of Walterboro, CCEDC Two, Inc., and CCEDC One, Inc., Walterboro/Colleton County, South Carolina, to fund the construction of water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to support the Venture Park in Colleton County. Once completed, the project will help sustain the region from the impact of natural disasters and support the expansion of a local industry in the area, which will diversify the economy, spur job creation and build resiliency against any future disasters. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 125 jobs and leverage $7,000,000 in private investment.
  - $724,400, matched by $181,100 in local investment, to Lancaster County, Lancaster/ Lancaster County, South Carolina, to fund roadway improvements to support the expansion of an existing automotive industry in Lancaster. Once completed, this project will strengthen and enhance he automotive cluster in the region, create jobs, spur private investment in a disaster-impacted area, and promote economic resiliency against future disasters. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 153 jobs and leverage $18,000,000 in private investment.
- $1,190,000 in 17 Partnership Planning projects, matched by $1,190,000 in local investments, to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.