U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support University-led Healthcare Workforce Training Efforts in Alaska

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million American Rescue Plan grant to the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, to support workforce development in the state’s health care sector.

This project will renovate Sally Monserud Hall, expanding the university’s capacity to admit and train students in nursing and clinical health. This EDA grant will be matched with $1 million in local funds and is expected to help train more than 500 new students, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan offers direct relief to American communities as they work to respond to and recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “Alaska is suffering a persistent shortage of health care professionals that this investment will help mitigate.”

“The Economic Development Administration partners with communities to develop locally-driven investments to create stronger, more resilient regional economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will promote good-paying, stable jobs in the Alaskan health care system.”

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.