U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.9 Million to Support Business Growth in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.9 million grant to the city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for infrastructure improvements to support business expansion and job creation in the city’s business district.

This grant will enable the construction of new parking and support facilities including a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. This EDA investment will be matched with $468,600 in local funds and is expected to create 200 jobs and generate $2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is about ensuring all communities in Oklahoma and across the country have the resources and support to build resilient and sustainable economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment provides Tahlequah with the parking and transportation infrastructure needed to grow the business district, support expansion, and spur job creation that will boost their local economy.

“The Economic Development Administration supports locally led, place-based economic development designed to boost local economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will provide critical infrastructure to support business growth and a robust, diversified local economy.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD). EDA funds EODD 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 by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. 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.