February 22 - 26, 2021

EDA announced 22 investments from February 22-26, 2021, totaling $19,591,330.80, which is matched by $9,825,149 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $13,094,078 in 18 Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which includes nine projects for $11,118,475 that will help create 2,527 jobs, save 8,295 jobs, and leverage $134,710,000 in private investments; (2) $6,416,508 in three 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, which includes two projects totaling $6,378,000 that will help create 156 jobs, save 50 jobs, and leverage $22,000,000 in private investments; and (3) $80,744.80 in one Partnership Planning project to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.

• $13,094,078 in 18 Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects, matched by $7,929,508 in local investments, as follows:
  • $3,100,000, matched by $778,900 in local investment, to the Lafayette City Parish Consolidated Government, Lafayette/Lafayette County, Louisiana, to fund construction and installation of new fiber optic lines both aerially and in new 2-inch cable conduits, network hubs, handholes for cable access, connection to existing hubs, and appurtenances along seven target areas within the Acadiana Region. The new infrastructure will serve the municipal government complex and business park in Scott, the new Iberia Parish Emergency Operations Center, the Acadiana Regional Airport, a behavioral health clinic in New Iberia, and four industrial parks. Once completed, the project will help the region overcome the lack of adequate, reliable broadband service in Acadiana’s Rural Communities, which will address the region’s ability to respond to the current COVID-19 disaster as well as help the region’s ability to respond to future pandemics. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 22 jobs and leverage $26,000,000 in private investment.
  • $2,600,000, matched by $650,000 in local investment, to the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute/Neosho County, Kansas, to support the construction of the Southeast Kansas Impact Center for Wellness, Education, and Business. The Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center (NMRMC) is developing the Impact Center, a 10,000 square feet multi-use business, workforce and healthcare facility to provide workforce training and respond to the impacts from the coronavirus pandemic in Chanute, Kansas. The Impact Center will provide 4,800 square feet of telehealth, seminar and conference space featuring computer technology and two dedicated rooms for telehealth specialty clinics, helping to meet the hospital’s rapidly growing telehealth provider needs including those related to COVID-19. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 256 jobs and leverage $45,000,000 in private investment.
  • $1,500,000, matched by $4,840,139 in local investment, to the North Dakota State College of Science Foundation, Wahpeton, North Dakota (Applicant: Fargo/Cass County, North Dakota), to support the North Dakota State College of Science Foundation with the construction of a Career Workforce Academy to provide a central location where high school students, traditional college students, and adult learners can learn skills and gain the credentials necessary for careers across several occupational clusters including agriculture, manufacturing/engineering, health care/allied sciences, architecture/construction, information technology, and workforce and business training in Cass County, North Dakota. This project will help the region diversify and increase the resiliency of the regional workforce in response to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by providing the necessary additional space for the college to expand training for students seeking jobs in industries that will have high demand and through supporting remote work through enhanced IT services, pivoting manufacturing operations to maintain stability and increase automation in the health and biosciences industries. Once completed, the project will advance economic resiliency, create new job opportunities, and attract private investment. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 109 jobs.
  • $1,171,579, matched by $390,526 in local investment, to the City of San Jose/SFMade/San Jose Downtown Association, San Jose/Santa Clara County, California, to fund the San Jose Small Business and Manufacturing Recovery Initiative to focus on providing technical assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 in San Jose, California, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will help support the city's manufacturing sector, which will build a stronger small-business climate overall by focusing on businesses’ long-term resiliency in addition to helping to address immediate needs. The program elements are designed to work together to generate increased economic opportunity among the city’s most vulnerable residents and business owners and to support businesses that need help navigating a dramatically changed environment in the wake of COVID-19, which will help to strengthen the regional economy and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 1,764 jobs and save 7,483 jobs.
  • $1,000,000, matched by $260,000 in local investment, to the Union Growth and Development Foundation, Inc., Farmerville/Union County, Louisiana, to support the Union Growth and Development Foundation, Inc. with designing and renovating seven buildings for use as the Delta Incubator, an advanced manufacturing business incubator to be located in Farmerville, Louisiana, an area hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once completed, the project will assist the region with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, support entrepreneurism, spur jobs creation, attract private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 95 jobs and leverage $18,300,000 in private investment.
  • $842,522, matched by $204,624 in local investment, to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Pittsfield/Berkshire County, Massachusetts, to support the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission with the development and implementation of the Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan and technical assistance to assist the region in improving its economy to pre-pandemic levels. The plan will help strengthen regional collaboration and provide new protocols for coordination of business support during emergency situations. Once implemented, the plan will incorporate long-term measures that bolster the region’s ability to avoid and withstand future economic disruptions, thereby stimulating the economy and advancing economic resiliency throughout the region.
  • $800,000, matched by $200,000 in local investment, to the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance, Laramie/Albany County, Wyoming, to fund a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to support small business and overall economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Albany County, Wyoming. Through the RLF, the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance will increase partnerships with local financial institutions and increase access to financing for small businesses, with a focus on businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector. The RLF will provide much-needed capital in the region for businesses to continue operations and retain and create jobs while advancing longer term recovery, resiliency, and economic diversification. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 15 jobs and leverage $1,500,000 in private investment.
  • $500,000, matched by $184,771 in local investment, to the Eugene Chamber of Commerce/Onward Eugene/University of Oregon, Eugene/Lane County, Oregon, to support the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Onward Eugene, and the University of Oregon with expanding programs for the innovation district in Eugene, Oregon, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will grow and expand the business accelerator and mentor network through the Onward Eugene accelerator program and leverage the mentor experience from the University of Oregon, which will help foster entrepreneurship and build new businesses in Eugene. Once implemented, the new programs will help businesses respond to COVID by helping train the unemployed workforce and find jobs that have transferrable skills. These activities will be supported by University of Oregon mentors and experts as well as community partners to help people create a business that grows into the community and creates high-wage jobs. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 256 jobs and leverage $910,000 in private investment.
  • $300,000, matched by $60,000 in local investment, to Vivian’s Door, Inc., Mobile/Mobile County, Alabama, to support the development of an Initiative that will help advance the interests and needs of underserved businesses in Mobile County, Alabama, an area hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an incubator and accelerator model, this project will provide opportunities to enhance the overall entrepreneur experience by helping build an extensive network of low-income businesses, consumers, anchor institutions, large corporate partners, and municipal agencies—all working towards a systemic change in community support. Once implemented, the project will provide the region with a roadmap to achieve long-term prosperity and growth by building resiliency to withstand economic disruptions, which will help diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
  • $288,603, matched by $72,397 in local investment, to the City of Burlington, Burlington/Alamance County, North Carolina, to fund sewer infrastructure upgrades to service the City of Burlington’s industrial district and a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will provide resources to support a textile company expanding in the region, which will help create employment opportunities that support economic recovery, and provide the necessary infrastructure to allow the company to expand and make personal protective equipment, thereby supporting a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once completed, the project will provide permanent resources to support economic resiliency and further the long-term economic adjustment objectives, which will strengthen and advance the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 10 jobs, save 12 jobs, and leverage $2,500,000 in private investment.
  • $200,000, matched by $89,800 in local investment, to Greater Spokane Incorporated, Spokane/Spokane County, Washington, to support the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Spokane Valley and establishment of a dashboard and resiliency and response tools to keep the whole community united around a common set of strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shocks through the region's economy that require a strategy for not only recovering from the current adversity, but also building resiliency within the communities to withstand future economic stress. Once implemented, the CEDS will provide the region with a roadmap to achieve long-term prosperity and growth, which will help diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
  • $164,348, matched by $41,087 in local investment, to the Tahoe Prosperity Center, Incline Village/Washoe County, Nevada (Project: Reno/Washoe County, Nevada), to support the preparation of a regional economic recovery and resiliency action plan that outlines implementation steps to diversify the regional economy in Washoe County, Nevada. The project work activities will include performance of an economic impact analysis of pre-coronavirus pandemic economic indicators and identification of specific initiatives and actions to foster economic growth in non-tourism industries. Once implemented, the plan will lead to diversification of the regional economy, which will provide more employment opportunities for the region's workforce.
  • $158,293, matched by $39,574 in local investment, to the Stanislaus Business Alliance, Modesto/Stanislaus County, California, to fund the Save Stanislaus COVID Intervention Program, to help county businesses harmed by the COVID-19 economic downturn stay in business and save jobs in Stanislaus County, California, a designated Opportunity Zone. The scope of work includes developing a strategy of business needs, based upon interviews with local businesses, then using that information to provide targeted assistance to businesses in the area. Once implemented, the program will provide the region with a roadmap to achieve long-term prosperity and growth by building resiliency to withstand economic disruptions, which will help diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help save 800 jobs and leverage $40,500,000 in private investment.
  • $123,935, matched by $30,984 in local investment, to the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, Nashua/Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, to support the Nashua Regional Planning Commission with developing a comprehensive economic development recovery plan for the 13-community greater Nashua region. The project will help address the impacts of COVID-19 on the region’s economy including job losses, business closures, and the disparate impact of recent economic dislocations on traditionally disadvantaged and underserved businesses. Key components of the plan would include developing strategies to leverage Nashua’s two Opportunity Zones, increasing support for entrepreneurship programs, and targeting revitalization strategies for key restaurant and retail corridors, which will strengthen and advance the regional economy.
  • $92,578, matched by $23,500 in local investment, to the Land of Sky Regional Council/ Southwestern Commission, Asheville/Buncombe County, North Carolina, to support the Land of Sky Regional Council with conducting a supply chain asset inventory and gap analysis for the outdoor gear and medical technology industries in Asheville, North Carolina. The analysis will help identify opportunities for job growth and the work will be shared with local and regional policymakers, workforce development directors, and business leaders to inform future decisions and to help the region better understand and capitalize on opportunities for reshoring and cultivating these industries to foster job creation. Once implemented, the plan will strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
  • $92,220, matched by $23,206 in local investment, to the City of Pikeville, Pikeville/Pike County, Kentucky, to support the City of Pikeville with creating a strategic plan to identify the need for a medical research and development, and advanced pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry cluster. The project will assist Eastern Kentucky in economic recovery by providing much needed jobs to recover from the coal industry downturn, while also helping the region prepare for future pandemics and global disasters. Once completed, the plan will help spur economic development and diversification in the city for years to come and provide industry leaders, investors, and other partners with market research and recommendations to help the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and increase resiliency for future disruptions.
  • $80,000, matched by $20,000 in local investment, to the Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc., Darlington/Darlington County, South Carolina, to support the development of a feasibility study to determine the market demand for refrigerated storage and related sectors with specific attention to the newly operating Inland Port Dillon in Darlington, South Carolina. The results of the study will enable Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc. to adequately plan for the size, location, and number of facilities needed to meet current and future demands of the region. Once completed, this project supports recovery and resiliency by improving the reliability and safety of the food service supply chain, which will help the region with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic and help diversify the local economy.
  • $80,000, matched by $20,000 in local investment, to the Lee-Russell Council of Governments, Opelika/Lee County, Alabama, to support the Lee-Russell Council of Governments with developing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to include economic recovery planning as a result of economic dislocations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Opelika, Alabama. The project will provide the resources needed to focus on both short-term and long-term strategies for a more resilient and sustainable region as well as enable the region to have a strategic approach based on regional visioning, goals, measurable objectives and prioritized action. Once implemented, the CEDS will assist the region with recovery efforts from the pandemic and help build resiliency from future economic disruptions.
• $6,416,508 in three Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $1,879,492 in local investments, as follows:
  • $6,000,000 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $1,708,000 in local investment, to the Town of Darrington, Darrington/Snohomish County, Washington, to support the Town of Darrington with site work, infrastructure, utilities, and land purchase for development of the Darrington Wood Innovation Center. The Center will provide a hub for the next generation of high-technology wood product companies, with the potential to revitalize the wood products after the industry suffered as a result of the Oso mudslide in Darrington, Washington, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will create jobs, attract private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 156 jobs and leverage $22,000,000 in private investment.
  • $378,000 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $94,500 in local investment, to the Centre, Water Works and Sewer Board, Centre/Cherokee County, Alabama, to fund construction of a new sewer lift station and the demolition and removal of the existing station to allow for a normal flow rate in Cherokee County, Alabama. The upgrades to the system will enhance capacity significantly and increase the ability of the lift station to move 750 gallons of water/minute to 1,100, resulting in a necessary and important resilience measure inside an opportunity zone, which will bolster economic growth and save jobs throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help save 50 jobs.
  • $38,508, matched by $76,992 in local investment, to Essex County, Tappahannock/Essex County, Virginia, to support the preliminary engineering and design of the undeveloped lots within the LaGrange Industrial Park, located in an Opportunity Zone in Essex County, Virginia. The project will support Essex County efforts to have marketable land ready for development for businesses with the potential to bring better jobs to the area. Additionally, the project will quantify the cost for companies to develop these parcels for business locations, including the options for extending water and sewer service into the park, extension of utilities, extension of the roadway within the park, stormwater management costs and costs to make the parcels pad ready. Once completed, the project will promote job creation, attract private investment, and strengthen the regional economy.
• $80,744.80 in one Partnership Planning project, matched by $16,149 in local investment, 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.