U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5.3 Million for Building Renovations to Support Workforce Development in Tennessee

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, edamedia@eda.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $5.3 million in the state of Tennessee for water infrastructure improvements needed to boost business expansion and job creation in the region.

The EDA investments announced today are:

The Bedford County Utilities District in Shelbyville will receive a $3.1 million grant for water infrastructure improvements at the 231 Industrial Park to support business expansion. This EDA investment will be matched with $780,000 in local funds.

The Brownsville Energy Authority in Brownsville will receive $2.2 million to construct new infrastructure to provide water supply to the I-40 Advantage Industrial Park to support job creation. This EDA investment will be matched with $547,400 in local funds, and is expected to create 190 jobs, and generate $150 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda is ensuring that all communities have the resources and opportunities they need to compete and thrive in today’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will advance that mission by enabling Shelbyville and Brownsville to promote local business and job growth that will make the regional economy more resilient.”

“The Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with local communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “These investments will support business growth in Shelbyville, Brownsville, and throughout the region.”

The Shelbyville project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD). EDA funds SCTDD 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.

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.