U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.3 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Infrastructure Upgrades to Support Business and Job Growth in Douglas, Massachusetts

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.3 million grant to the town of Douglas, Massachusetts, for sewer and water system upgrades needed to spur economic development. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will provide the necessary infrastructure to serve the development of 2.4 million square feet of new warehousing and industrial space, creating jobs for the region. This EDA grant will be matched with $828,313 in local funds and is expected to create 750 jobs and generate $173 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan offers direct relief to American communities as they work to build a better America for the future,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will help Douglas build a stronger, more robust local economy.”

“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. “EDA is pleased to assist Douglas as it works to provide the infrastructure businesses need to grow and thrive.”

“This $3.3 million grant from the EDA is great news for Douglas, and I’m grateful for the federal, state and local partnership that secured it,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This funding from the American Rescue Plan will generate hundreds of new jobs, upgrade essential water and sewer infrastructure, and help promote economic development in the region.”

“This Economic Development Administration grant will ensure Douglas has the funding needed to upgrade its sewer and water systems, which will help spur economic development,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “I’m proud to have supported the American Rescue Plan, which paved the way for this investment into Douglas.”

“This announcement is a huge deal for the Town of Douglas. I’m so grateful for the tireless partnership of Secretary Raimondo and everyone at the Economic Development Administration who helped make this a reality,” said Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02). “This $3.3 million grant will be spent on upgrading infrastructure to attract new businesses – expanding our local economy and bringing 750 new jobs to our region. It’s a major win for Central Massachusetts, and exactly the kind of bold, transformative project that President Biden and I had in mind when we worked to get the American Rescue Plan signed into law. My team and I will continue advocating to bring federal money back to Massachusetts to build a more robust, resilient economy here in the Second District.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC). EDA funds CMRPC 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 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.