November 15 - 19, 2021

EDA announced two investments from November 15-19, 2021, totaling $1,609,630, which is matched by $404,407 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.

• $1,109,630, matched by $277,407 in local investment, to the Board of Control for Southern Education, Atlanta/Fulton County, GA (Project: Philadelphia/Philadelphia County, PA), to support the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education with expanding the urban agriculture market and providing a rebound to the declining employment rate presented from the COVID-19 pandemic in North Philadelphia.  The project consists of collecting data to create a planning framework, designing and testing an urban-rural agriculture model, developing baseline metrics for an Inclusive Competitiveness Index to measure community and institutional capacity to navigate a post-COVID economic landscape, and establishing a protocol for a national collaboration.  Once completed, the project will help strengthen employment and business recovery efforts at the local, regional, and state levels, which will promote economic growth throughout the region.
• $500,000, matched by $127,000 in local investment, to Medina County, Hondo/Medina County, Texas, to fund infrastructure improvements to increase broadband accessibility for areas within Medina County, Texas, a designated Opportunity Zone.  The project includes the installation of fiber optic cable that supports structures to provide high-speed internet access.  In addition, the project will provide improved communication capabilities in times of disasters, emergencies, and inclement weather.  Once completed, the project will help the region with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, attract and retain businesses, create and save jobs, promote private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.