Press Release

Commerce Department Invests $14.58 Million to Help Boost U.S. Economic Competitiveness in the Global Marketplace

September 20, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

U.S. EDA Investments Support Job Creation in IL, ME, MI, NY, PA, WI & WV

WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced $14.58 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to help communities in Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and West Virginia adjust to increasing competition in the global marketplace, better positioning them to create jobs and boost their local economies.

"The Obama administration is committed to helping main street businesses create jobs and increase their global competitiveness," Locke said. "These EDA grants will help support job creation and economic growth in these communities by developing strategies and projects that foster business development and keep companies competitive."

The grants announced today include:

• $3.5 million to the Village of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., to help build the 40,000-square-foot Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Southeast Wisconsin Innovation Center. The business incubator for biomedical, life science and biotechnology start-ups will enhance and build upon the region's entrepreneurial resources to accelerate the formation and growth of new and innovative companies.
• $3 million to the city of Danville, Ill., to construct a roadway and rail overpass bridge to support the city's industrial area by improving the transport of goods and services along major transportation routes.
• $2.1 million to the Jackson County Development Authority of Ripley, W.V., to construct water, sewer and rail infrastructure improvements to support the location of the Armstrong World Industries manufacturing complex in Jackson County.
• $1.4 million to Washington County and the city of Eastport, Maine, for the construction and rehabilitation of the Eastport Business Center and establishment of the Maine Marine Energy Center, a facility which will support manufacturing components for the emerging tidal energy generation industry. This will be the first marine renewable energy manufacturing facility of its kind in the United States.
• $1.2 million to the city of Galesburg, Ill., and Knox County to create the Entrepreneurs Innovate and Go Global Initiative aimed at helping the region support entrepreneurs and create products and services for export in the global economy.
• $1.2 million to the city of Janesville, Wis., to construct the Rock County Small Business Incubation and Innovation Center, leveraging the competencies and intellectual capital of the region's industry clusters to create jobs and attract private investment.
• $650,000 to Bedford County, Pa., to expand a multi-tenant building and incubator space in Bedford County Business Park I to stimulate entrepreneurial development in the emerging I-99 Innovation Corridor in Central Pennsylvania.
• $457,500 to Mifflin County and the Mifflin County Industrial Development Authority of Mifflin, Pa., to make infrastructure improvements to a multi-tenant manufacturing building, the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC) Plaza, that will allow for the expansion of production, an increase in global exports, and the retention and creation of manufacturing jobs.
• $391,000 to the city of Sterling Heights, Mich., to make technology and infrastructure improvements to the Macomb Technology Advancement Center, a business diversification center and incubator that provides support to entrepreneurs and technology transfer businesses.
• $383,965 to the city of Chicago, Ill., to develop and implement Chicago's Sustainable Industries (CSI) Project, a strategy to preserve and grow manufacturing sectors within the city that have the potential to succeed in the 21st century economy.
• $301,000 to Clinton County Government of Plattsburgh, N.Y., to partially fund three workforce development activities in Clinton County, including marketing the North Country Workforce Investment Board's employer programs, purchasing renewable energy equipment for the Wind Energy and Turbine Training program at Clinton Community College, and funding aviation training and equipment at the Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute.

Earlier this year, President Obama unveiled his National Export Initiative (NEI), an effort to help U.S. businesses sell their goods and services abroad with a goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years in support of several million American jobs. Through the NEI, the federal government is expanding its trade advocacy efforts in all forms, including educating U.S. companies about opportunities overseas, directly connecting U.S. companies with new customers, and advocating more forcefully for U.S. company interests in contracting processes.

These grants are funded under EDA's Community Trade Adjustment Assistance (CTAA) Program, which is aimed at helping to create and retain jobs by providing project grants to communities (cities, counties, or other political subdivisions of a state or a consortium of political subdivisions of a state, including District Organizations of Economic Development Districts) that have experienced, or are threatened by, job loss resulting from increased global competition.

Grants under the program can be used to support a wide range of technical, planning, and infrastructure projects to help communities adapt to the global marketplace and diversify their economies. Additional information is available at: http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/CommunityTAA.xml.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.