U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Tourism Sector in Southern Nevada

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.1 million grant to the Nevada System of Higher Education, Las Vegas, Nevada, to help the University of Nevada Las Vegas develop a program to facilitate economic recovery, resilience, and diversification in the regional tourism industry. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This EDA investment will improve capacity and performance for tourism-related businesses that will facilitate the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for the region’s workforce. This EDA grant will be matched with $517,250 in local funds.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is dedicated to supporting the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sector as it works to recover and rebuild following the pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will encourage resilience within Southern Nevada’s tourism industry while building the potential for future growth and expansion.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting local economic development strategies designed to boost regional economic growth and resiliency,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will build the capacity needed to facilitate the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in the region’s tourism sector.”

“Nevada is a world-class travel destination, and I’m always working to strengthen our hospitality industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it provides to Nevadans,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “I helped secure this funding so that UNLV’s tourism program will be able to foster resilient and innovative travel and tourism businesses and good-paying jobs across the state.”

“As Chair of the Senate Subcommittee overseeing tourism, I have been working hard to support the recovery of Nevada’s tourism, travel, and outdoor recreation industries,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “I’m thrilled that the Economic Development Administration has awarded this funding to NSHE, which will go a long way in aiding recovery and expansion efforts of Nevada’s biggest industries, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our state’s economy.”

“At the peak of the pandemic, Southern Nevada reached 33% unemployment due to the region’s strong ties to travel and tourism,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01). “I was proud to help secure funding in the American Rescue Plan to assist communities like ours that experienced these disproportionate impacts. This funding today will boost our region’s continued recovery and make it more resilient to future economic shocks in the tourism sector.”

This project is funded under EDA’s $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in 2021 to all 50 states and territories. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. 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.