Grant

July 26 - 30, 2021

EDA announced 10 investments from July 26-30, 2021, totaling $13,502,685, which is matched by $4,218,881 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $4,719,000 in three Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which includes two projects for $4,400,000 that will help create 360 jobs and leverage $180,000,000 in private investments; (2) $8,050,660 in two 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 96 jobs, save 551 jobs, and leverage $800,000 in private investment; (3) $243,025 in two Technical Assistance University Center projects to make the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development practitioner community; and (4) $490,000 in three Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.

  • $4,719,000 in three Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects, matched by $1,180,000 in local investments, as follows:
    • $4,000,000, matched by $1,000,000 in local investment, to the Volusia County/City of Daytona Beach, DeLand/Volusia County, Florida, to support Volusia County with preparing a 56-acre site directly adjacent to the County-owned Daytona Beach International Airport for the development of Project COVID, a pharmaceutical research, manufacturing, logistics and multi-modal distribution facility that will provide research and manufacturing of COVID-19 and aerospace related medicines in Volusia County, Florida. The development will directly address both the national coronavirus crisis and contribute to the airport’s recovery and resiliency from the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic. Once completed, the project will bolster job creation, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 360 jobs and leverage $150,000,000 in private investment.
    • $400,000, matched by $100,000 in local investment, to the Valley Shenango Economic Development Corporation, Sharon/Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to support the development of a feasibility study to determine the reuse of a former production facility of approximately 450,000 square feet for a substantial aquaponics/hydroponics operation in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, a designated Opportunity Zone. The study will include an investigation of power capabilities, water capacity, fire safety, security, energy infrastructure, heating and cooling systems, water circulation and purification systems, production systems, and other mission critical capabilities for the building and facility. The facility would create a new industry in the region and provide skilled jobs with upward mobility for the local workforce to help address a range of needs including responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and assisting with the long-term success of businesses in this area, which will support recovery and resiliency to diversify the local economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will leverage $30,000,000 in private investment.
    • $319,000, matched by $80,000 in local investment, to the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry/The Institute, Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to support the development of Project PIVOT, to allow for the discovery of job shifts and trends, identification of appropriate educational tracks, and the delivery of educational courses, training, and certification through LinkedIn Learning. The goal is to identify current and post COVID business needs and provide online industry led training to get displaced workers back to work in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Once completed, the project will bolster job creation, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
  • $8,050,660 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $2,305,856 in local investments, as follows:
    • $7,590,192 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $1,897,548 in local investment, to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Palmer/Matanuska County, Alaska, to fund infrastructure improvements designed to increase the operating efficiency of the Port of MacKenzie in Matanuska Susitna County, Alaska. The project includes installing 64 steel pile sleeves on the existing deep draft dock to increase its useful life, and a roll-on roll-off cargo dock to increase the Port’s offering and efficiency to serve as a back up to the Port. Once completed, the project will increase resiliency by strengthening the Port, which will mitigate the effects of future disasters and offer needed transportation alternatives to the marine industry, create and retain jobs, generate private investment, and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 16 jobs, save 551 jobs, and leverage $800,000 in private investment.
    • $460,468, matched by $408,308 in local investment, to the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation, Estes Park/Larimer County, Colorado, to support the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation with scaling their Business Accelerator Services of Estes (B.A.S.E.) program, which involves working with businesses to create a stronger and more lasting e-commerce and e-profile footprints to continue diversifying their revenue streams. The core function of the curriculum is to help build and support businesses not focused within the tourism sector, with a special focus on Professional Services and Wellness, Outdoor Recreation, and Products and Craft Goods through Business Model Mapping, Purpose in Business, Market Research, and Advertising Strategies, as well as Long- and Short-Term Strategic Planning. The economic impact will prepare businesses to remain resilient through any disaster, which will enhance future economic sustainability, strengthen the regional economy and bolster economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 80 jobs.
  • $243,025 in two Technical Assistance University Center projects, matched by $243,025 in local investments, to support a five-year University Center program, which is a competitively-based partnership between EDA and academic institutions that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development practitioner community.
  • $490,000 in three Partnership Planning projects, matched by $490,000 in local investments, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS). 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.