November 1 - 5, 2021

EDA announced four investments from November 1-5, 2021, totaling $14,478,448, which is matched by $7,344,043 in local investments.  These Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects will help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic that will help create 2,073 jobs, save 2,177 jobs, and leverage $298,000,000 in private investments, as follows:

• $4,750,000, matched by $3,700,477 in local investment, to the City of Chicago, Chicago/Cook County, Illinois, to support the establishment of the Kostner Avenue Vertical Clearance Improvement Project to enhance industrial development potential for 24 acres of open space in one of Chicago’s most economically distressed neighborhoods in North Lawndale.  The project will include construction to lower the pavement on Kostner Avenue under the CSX railroad viaduct to improve the industrial corridor’s truck route connection to the major interstate I-290 and the larger region’s transportation network.  Once completed, the project will benefit a designated Opportunity Zone, help with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, create and retain jobs, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency.  The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 380 jobs, save 380 jobs, and leverage $42,500,000 in private investment.
• $3,830,498, matched by $2,169,078 in local investment, to the Indianapolis Airport Authority/Town of Plainfield, Indianapolis/Marion County (Project: Plainfield/Hendricks County), Indiana, to support the construction of a new roadway to extend the Airtech Parkway into the Town of Plainfield.  The project will assist with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic by extending the roadway to connect to the Airport’s West Perimeter Road, which will enhance the Airport’s economic impact to the region and ease the flow of freight traffic at the airport.  Once completed, the project will ensure business continuity and sustainable recovery that supports logistics activity, which will bolster job growth and retention, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.  The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 1,378 jobs, save 1,757 jobs, and leverage $188,000,000 in private investment.
• $3,340,000, matched by $835,000 in local investment, to the Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC), Mountain Iron/Saint Louis County, Minnesota, to support the construction of more than 100 miles of middle-mile broadband fiber to expand the network and reach new local internet service providers, who will provide last-mile connections to remote and underserved areas throughout the vast geography of six counties of Northeast Minnesota.  The project will allow NESC to meet the region’s explosive demand for broadband connectivity and help the region recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an opening for new opportunities via enhanced broadband access.  Once completed, the project will benefit a designated Opportunity Zone, create and retain jobs, increase private investment, and strengthen the regional economy.  The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 15 jobs, save 40 jobs, and leverage $20,000,000 in private investment.
• $2,557,950, matched by $639,488 in local investment, to the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority/City of Detroit, Detroit/Wayne County, Michigan, to support the construction of critical roadway and utility infrastructures to meet the growing demand for food processing, wholesaling, and retailing food in Detroit’s Eastern Market in Wayne County, Michigan.  The project will support the development of the Greater Eastern Market Food Innovation Zone, which will enable existing businesses to expand their production and attract new businesses to ensure local food availability and mitigate logistics and transportation challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Once completed, the project will benefit a designated Opportunity Zone, bolster job creation, increase private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.  The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 300 jobs and leverage $47,500,000 in private investment.