U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Flood Protection Measures to Support Business Development in Annapolis, Maryland

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.2 million grant to the city of Annapolis, Maryland, for the design and engineering of a new city dock employing flood prevention measures. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will provide the modern and climate-resilient infrastructure necessary to support established businesses and attract additional private investment in the region. This EDA grant will be matched with $797,800 in local funds.

“The Biden-Harris Administration supports community-led efforts to strengthen and grow regional economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide the climate-resilient infrastructure necessary for local businesses to create jobs and build economic resiliency in the region.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the city of Annapolis as it works to grow the region’s economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will replace aging infrastructure to give the region a competitive advantage in attracting new businesses and jobs, making the local economy more resilient and better equipped to overcome future economic disruptions.”

“This grant constitutes a critical federal investment in the long-term sustainability of the Annapolis City Dock as a vibrant place where tourism and businesses can thrive and benefit from the historic character of the waterfront,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “The COVID-19 pandemic took a major toll on places such as Annapolis, where tourism plays a central role in the local economy. EDA has recognized that a successful, long-term recovery from the pandemic requires an investment in infrastructure for flood protection, an increasingly urgent need due to climate change. This federal support will help Annapolis sustain a healthy tourism sector and attract new investment in the future.”

“For small businesses and the folks who live in Annapolis, flooding is a constant concern, with costly consequences. When I visited the Annapolis City Dock last year, I heard these concerns directly from business owners and residents and saw first-hand the impacts. That’s why we fought to secure funds in the American Rescue Plan to improve our infrastructure and harden our defenses against flooding to ultimately create jobs and boost our local economies. This federal investment will do just that by helping to bolster City Dock against flooding and the effects of climate change,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “I’ll keep working to deliver federal resources to Maryland that strengthen our economy and our communities.”

“Raising the City Dock will strengthen its resilience against the effects of climate change and transform it into greenspace for the Annapolis community. This revitalization project is an economic, environmental, historical and cultural priority for the entire region,” said Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03). “By funding projects like these across the country, the American Rescue Plan serves as a powerful engine to rebuild our communities, boost our economy and secure a stronger future.”

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 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.