March 9 - 13, 2020

EDA announced nine investments from March 9-13, 2020, totaling $1,497,218, which is matched by $1,121,692 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $377,218 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, and (2) $1,120,000 in six Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
$377,218 in three Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $121,692 in local investments, as follows:
$201,218 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $50,305 in local investment, to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Spooner/Washburn County, Wisconsin, to fund the development of a comprehensive inventory and evaluation of flood-prone road and stream crossings in Wisconsin’s Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron Counties, to create a regional infrastructure systems database for the Lake Superior Basin region. The transportation infrastructure systems of northern Wisconsin are at risk of continued failure due to repeated flooding and a lack of road-stream crossing inventory and flood hazard evaluation. The project will help the region’s leaders maximize their investment in critical infrastructure, which will limit the impact of future natural disasters and strengthen the regional economy.
$96,000 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $51,387 in local investment, to the Marshall University Research Corporation, Huntington/Cabell County, West Virginia, to support the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Marshall University with conducting research and developing economic development strategies for three counties hit hard by the decline of the coal industry in West Virginia. The project will provide needed economic stability and a roadmap on continued diversification of the economy, which will enhance job creation and retention, spur private investment, and advance resiliency throughout the region.
$80,000 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $20,000 in local investment, to the Moore County Partners in Progress and the County of Moore, Pinehurst/Moore County, North Carolina, to support the Moore County Partners in Progress with conducting an entrepreneurial assessment to support disaster recovery, economic resiliency and diversification in Moore County. The study will evaluate the viability of various entrepreneurial development opportunities, including the potential for establishing an entrepreneurial incubator/hub, and then determine the best course of action to implement in order to assist small businesses, foster entrepreneurial development, and mitigate adverse economic effects from natural disasters, including recent hurricanes. Once completed, the project will provide long-term economic growth, support business development, and create new jobs throughout the region.
$1,120,000 in six Partnership Planning projects, matched by $1,000,000 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.