U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.6 Million to Support Industrial Technology Workforce Development in Rock Hill, South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million grant to York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to support workforce development and job creation in the industrial sector.

This grant will support the procurement of equipment necessary to upgrade and expand training capacity in the industrial maintenance, machine tool technology, and welding departments. This EDA investment will be matched with $410,496 in local funds and is expected to create more than 70 jobs, and generate $5.5 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“As part of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda, we’re ensuring that workers have the skills and resources they need to secure good-paying jobs in the communities where they live,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will increase training opportunities for the people of Rock Hill and create pathways to professional growth for workers, helping to meet regional industry workforce needs.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to provide targeted, place-based grants designed to support local workforce development programs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This award will accelerate the potential of the region’s workforce to secure quality jobs in emerging, high-demand sectors.”

“You’d be hard pressed to find a stronger engine for workforce development in this region than York Technical College. This institution is laser focused on educating students to fill high-quality, high-paying jobs,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05). “This grant represents an investment not just in York Technical College, but in countless businesses throughout our area who rely on their graduates. I know the return on this investment will be significant, and I want to thank everyone at York Technical College for the outstanding work they’re doing.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments (COG). EDA funds COG 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 the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.