U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $690,604 for Infrastructure Improvements to Boost Business and Job Growth in Elizabethtown, North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $690,604 grant to Elizabethtown, North Carolina, for infrastructure improvements needed to support business and job growth in the region.

This grant will support development of the Elizabethtown Industrial Park and its new Live-Work-Play campus, in a region impacted by changes in the energy economy. This EDA investment will be matched with $364,896 in local funds, is expected to create 50 jobs, and generate $2.3 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Elizabethtown in its place-based approach to bringing new job opportunities to the region,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA grant will support the creation of critical, in-demand jobs while providing access to quality childcare and healthcare services.”

“We are grateful to our federal partners for their continued investments in the infrastructure of our state,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This grant will provide a boost to local economies and bring good-paying jobs to the Elizabethtown community.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeastern Economic Development Commission (SEDC). EDA funds SEDC 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 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.