U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Business and Workforce Development Efforts in North Dakota

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $2.1 million in the state of North Dakota for business and workforce development in the state. These grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan.

The Red River Regional Council, Grafton, will receive a $1.6 million grant to renovate an existing facility to accommodate an entrepreneurship center and innovation lab for use by new and emerging businesses in the food sector. This EDA grant will be matched with $409,189 in local funds and is expected to create 28 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

The Grand Forks Public School District Building Authority, Grand Forks will receive a $520,000 grant for procurement of equipment for the Grand Forks Public School District's new Career Impact Academy and its occupational training programs for adult learners and K-12 students. This EDA grant will be matched with $130,000 in local funds.

“President Biden is dedicated to supporting communities as they seek to create new opportunities to spur business growth and create jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will support business and workforce efforts in North Dakota to help communities there build stronger, more robust local economies.”

“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. “EDA is pleased to support projects in Grafton and Grand Forks designed to drive innovation and create good-paying jobs.” 

These investments were made possible by the regional planning efforts of the Red River Regional Council (RRRC). EDA funds the RRRC 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.