U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Boost Manufacturing Growth in Sedro Woolley, Washington

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Port of Skagit County, Washington, for infrastructure improvements and site development in support of regional manufacturing growth.

This project will prepare a portion of the port-owned SWIFT Center in Sedro-Woolley for future occupancy of manufacturing businesses and a manufacturing incubator through installation of water and sewer infrastructure, landscaping, roadway improvements, and demolition of existing buildings. The EDA investment will be matched with $549,600 in local funds and is expected to create 1,000 jobs and generate $40 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to unleashing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from the pandemic but builds back stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide capacity for the expansion of the manufacturing industry in Sedro-Woolley, broadening and strengthening the regional 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. “This project will result in a facility and critical infrastructure that can best support the growth of innovative local Washington manufacturers.”

“The Port of Skagit’s SWIFT Center has great potential for regional economic development – in manufacturing, research and development, and more – and these funds will help see those opportunities come to fruition,” said Governor Jay Inslee. “While the center creates good jobs for the community’s future, it also preserves the historic character of the former Northern State Hospital’s century-old campus acquired by the port in 2018.”

“The Port of Skagit County is a cornerstone of the local economy – and these grants I worked to include in the bipartisan CARES Act will help upgrade it to support new businesses, make sure more goods are manufactured right here in Washington state, and create nearly one thousand new jobs for workers in Sedro Woolley,” said Senator Patty Murray. “This will make a huge difference in Skagit County and help the port, businesses, and working families thrive. I’m proud to bring home critical investment like this one, and I’ll keep fighting to deliver for Washington state communities.”

“The Port of Skagit’s SWIFT Center means jobs and economic opportunity in Skagit County,” said Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02). “This critical investment enables the Port to invest in the critical infrastructure it needs to grow the innovation and technology hub and bring more manufacturing jobs to Northwest Washington.”

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.