Press Release
U.S. Commerce Department Invests $1.5 Million to Support Green Infrastructure and Job Training in Oregon
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Garten Services, Inc., of Salem, Oregon. The funding will help the nonprofit organization acquire and install modern recycling processing equipment and make site improvements needed to increase the productivity of a Marion County recycling facility. The grant money will also be used to increase the availability of training opportunities for workers seeking employment at the facility.
“The Obama Administration is committed to taking action that strengthens job training for workers in communities nationwide,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA grant announced today supports manufacturing innovation, while also giving people in northwest Oregon the skills to match new employer needs.”
According to the grantee, EDA’s investment to increase the capacity of the facility and spur job training opportunities will help create 69 jobs in the region, which has been plagued by high unemployment. In addition to the anticipated job creation, this investment supports local sustainability and environmental stewardship efforts. The environmental impact of economic development is an important consideration with any public works project. EDA’s Triple Bottom Line tool can help communities like Salem optimize and communicate investment alignment with economic, environmental, and social performance.
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.