Press Release

U.S. Commerce Department Awards $1 Million to Promote Workforce Training in Calmar, Iowa

September 1, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $1.1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar, Iowa, to renovate an existing campus building to create the Wilder Business and Industry Training Center. According to college estimates, the completed project will result in the retention and creation of 268 jobs and help to generate $10 million in private investment.

"President Obama is committed to enhancing and expanding educational opportunities to keep America competitive in the global economy," Blank said. "This project will ensure that Northeast Iowa Community College continues to provide its employees with the resources and training they need to stay competitive, and employers with a high-skilled workforce to support continued growth and innovation."

This EDA investment will provide the physical space and technological capability for NICC's Continuing Education and Economic Development Department to offer expanded, tailored business training programs. It will also allow the college to fully implement its partnership with the AIM2WIN collaborative, a Department of Labor-funded, tri-state initiative to generate opportunities that will further regional economic prosperity.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:

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 makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.