U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support the Distribution and Logistics Sector in Central Indiana

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Indianapolis Airport Authority, Indianapolis, Indiana, to support the distribution and logistics sector in Central Indiana. 

This grant will build infrastructure to support supply chain needs by providing a faster, more direct route for critical freight distribution of temperature-sensitive materials.  This will be particularly helpful to the effective and timely distribution of healthcare supplies that have become even more crucial during the pandemic. The project will extend a critical access road, Airtech Parkway to connect the airport to a cluster of logistics companies in the town of Plainfield. This EDA grant, to be matched with $2.2 million in local funds, is expected to create 1,378 jobs, retain 1,757 jobs, and generate $188 million in private investment.

“President Biden supports regional efforts to build back stronger and more resilient,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Indianapolis International Airport will lead to a sustainable economic recovery by directly linking key logistics distribution centers to one of the country’s largest cargo airports, ensuring business continuity and resilience from future economic disruptions.”

“The Economic Development Administration is proud to support pandemic recovery and response efforts that leverage a region’s core assets,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The pandemic has highlighted the stress on our supply chains and the crucial need for supplies to move effectively.  This grant will help increase the effective and timely distribution of vital supplies including healthcare supplies.”

“I commend Secretary of Commerce Raimondo for recognizing the important role the Indianapolis International Airport plays in fulfilling transportation needs,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “Indiana is called the Crossroads of America for a reason. We can reach all corners of our country in a reasonable timeframe which is key when the cargo contains essential health care supplies. The funding will help the airport offer more direct routes to international destinations which will be key in expanding economic development.”

“I’m extremely pleased that the Indianapolis Airport Authority has been awarded these critical funds from the CARES Act, which I was honored to vote for in the House of Representatives,” said Congressman André Carson (IN-07). “These federal dollars will go far in strengthening our local aviation industry, maintaining and creating good jobs for Hoosiers, making much-needed improvements to our supply chains, and strengthening our infrastructure. This welcome news proves once again that the Biden Administration is committed to helping Indiana build back better.”

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.