U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.6 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Infrastructure Upgrades to Service Local Businesses in Douglas, Georgia

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.6 million grant to the city of Douglas, Georgia, for natural gas, water, and sewer system upgrades needed to support business growth at the Barrington Agri-Business Park. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will help to better serve existing industries, enabling business expansion and job growth. The EDA investment will be matched with $638,298 in local funds and is expected to create 64 jobs and generate $45 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds a better America for the future,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide for necessary infrastructure upgrades to support job creation and business development in Douglas.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are excited to support business growth at the Barrington Agri-Business Park to help create jobs for the people of Douglas and the surrounding region.”

“I am laser-focused on creating jobs, supporting local businesses and securing federal resources for our state that keep our economy moving forward, so I’m thrilled to see these investments flow to Douglas’ Barrington Agri-Business Park,” said Senator Raphael Warnock. “I’ll keep working to strengthen these and other critical investments in Georgia’s infrastructure that help keep our economy strong.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC). EDA funds SGRC 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. 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 U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) mission 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 economically distressed communities to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.