U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.4 Million to Support Aviation Workforce Development in Southeastern Utah

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.4 million grant to Carbon County, Utah, to support aviation maintenance workforce development in a region impacted by changes in the energy economy.

This project will support the development of an aircraft maintenance technician training facility and hangar at the Carbon County Airport, preparing local residents for good-paying jobs. This EDA investment will be matched with $507,500 in local funds and is expected to create 75 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides communities – particularly those impacted by declines in coal jobs – with resources they need to diversify and grow their local economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will help revitalize the regional economy and help Southeastern Utahans get good-paying jobs in the in-demand aviation maintenance field.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Carbon County and Utah State University Eastern in their place-based approach to bringing new opportunities to the region,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA grant to support the Aviation Campus Workforce Development program will not only address the local workforce needs of Southeastern Utah, but also build long-term economic resiliency as the region grapples with changes in the coal economy.”

“As southeastern Utah seeks to grow and diversify economically, it is critical to provide access to education and training resources that align with high-paying job and career opportunities for Utahns,” said Senator Mitt Romney. “This EDA investment will allow Utah State University Eastern and Carbon County to expand the Aviation Campus Workforce Development Project, offering workforce training and academic programs to students and workers from all over the state—strengthening regional career options.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeastern Utah Economic Development District (SEUEDD). EDA funds SEUEDD to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development framework which strengthens the regional economy, supports private capital investment, and creates jobs.

This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

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.