Press Release

U.S. EDA Invests to Help Establish Bilingual Technology Training Facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

September 26, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $1.28 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA) and the SACA Development Corporation of Lancaster, Pa., to help renovate a vacant facility for use as the state-of-the-art Bilingual Technology Training Center. The project is expected to provide training to 300 Spanish speaking workers annually, according to grantee estimates.

"The Obama Administration is committed to creating jobs, encouraging innovation and improving our nation's economic competitiveness," Blank said. "This EDA grant will improve employment opportunities for Spanish-speaking workers by providing them with a training facility that will teach them the skills they need to compete for manufacturing careers in the region's growing high-technology clusters."

The EDA grant will help to establish the Bilingual Technology Training Center, which will extend bilingual and remedial training opportunities to prepare low-income minority clients for high-demand growth jobs in the Lancaster region. The facility will house multiple tenants engaged in training activities, including the Harrisburg Area Community College.

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 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.