U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Expand Healthcare Workforce Training in Sioux City, Iowa

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, to renovate and expand a former residence hall to create the Health Care Workforce Training Facility. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will provide new health sciences training classrooms, labs, and facilities needed to double the current enrollment of students and produce a highly trained healthcare workforce. This EDA grant will be matched with $1.6 million in local funds.

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan offers direct support to our nation’s communities as they work to respond to and recover from the pandemic and Build a Better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will enable Briar Cliff University to expand and enhance its healthcare workforce training programs to meet employer demand.”

“The Economic Development Administration supports locally-driven economic development strategies to drive workforce expansion to create stronger, more resilient regional economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will renovate a former residence hall at Briar Cliff University to support expanded healthcare workforce development programs, preparing students for highly-skilled, good-paying jobs.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO). EDA funds SIMPCO to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs.

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.