U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5.5 Million to Support the Agriculture Industry and Provide Electrical Infrastructure Improvements in Kansas

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $5.5 million in the state of Kansas to support the agriculture industry and make electrical infrastructure improvements needed to bolster economic opportunity in the region.

The EDA investments announced today are:

• The Land Institute in Salina will receive a $3.2 million grant for construction of a new greenhouse and headhouse to foster business opportunities in the regional perennial grain industry. This EDA award will be matched with $795,486 in local funds.
• The city of Beloit will receive a $2.3 million grant for electrical substation upgrades to provide consistent service while enabling business expansion and job growth. This EDA investment will be matched $578,140 in local funds and is expected to create 25 jobs and generate $10 million in private investment.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda is ensuring that all communities in Kansas and across the country have the resources they need to compete and thrive in today’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will create new opportunities in the agriculture industry and ensure reliable electrical service in areas recently impacted by natural disasters.”

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with communities to support locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency efforts,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “These projects will help diversify Kansas’ economy and create vital jobs.”

“These grants from the Economic Development Administration will strengthen our electrical grid and agriculture industry while spurring economic growth and creating new jobs for our state,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Thanks to these investments from our federal partners, we’re continuing to secure critical resources to support our communities, economy, and infrastructure.”

“The Land Institute in Salina and the City of Beloit have both been impacted by natural disasters, and these resources will support ongoing community work to rebuild,” said Senator Jerry Moran. “These investments will help strengthen Kansas’ electrical infrastructure and bolster the agriculture industry, boosting efforts to create new jobs in rural areas.”

These projects were made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC). EDA funds NCRPC 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.

These projects are 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.