U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.4 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Bolster Infrastructure for Business and Job Growth in North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $8.4 million in American Rescue Plan grants to support North Carolina as it recovers from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Benson, North Carolina, will receive a $3.2 million grant for sewer system improvements designed to support expansion of an existing manufacturing plant. The project will be matched with $1.6 million in local funds and is expected to create 63 jobs and generate $70 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

• Smithfield, North Carolina, will receive a $2.7 million grant for sewer system improvements designed to facilitate increased operational capacity at a business park housing the fulfillment center of a major, national retailer. The project will be matched with $1.1 million in local funds and is expected to create 500 jobs and generate $100 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
• Mebane, North Carolina, will receive a $2.5 million grant for water system improvements designed to support the facility expansions of a major food manufacturer and a large shipping and logistics company. The project will be matched with $1 million in local funds and is expected to create 526 jobs and generate $262 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to providing communities with the resources they need to recover from the pandemic and build a better America in the process,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “These EDA investments will provide for sewer and water infrastructure upgrades needed to support job creation and business development in North Carolina.”

“The Economic Development Administration is dedicated to working with communities to support their locally-driven strategies to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are pleased to partner Benson, Smithfield and Mebane to provide the vital infrastructure that local businesses need to grow, thrive and create new jobs for North Carolinians.”

“Investments in infrastructure strengthen our communities and economy,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This funding will modernize water and wastewater systems and create new jobs in our state.”

These projects were made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG; Benson, Smithfield) and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC; Mebane). EDA funds TJCOG and PTRC 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.

These projects are 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. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.

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.