Press Release

U.S. Economic Development Administration Invests $1 Million to Boost Manufacturing in Central Texas

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Tuesday, July 1, 2014

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jay Williams Announces $1 Million Grant for Austin [re]Manufacturing Hub with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett

WASHINGTON – U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams today announced that the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1 million to the city of Austin, Texas, to build infrastructure to service the Austin [re]Manufacturing Hub Eco-Industrial Park. The Park will house recycling manufacturing firms and will focus on recycling market development.

“American manufacturing is a vital part of our nation’s economic growth,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. “The EDA grant announced today supports critical infrastructure that will help green manufacturers thrive and strengthen the regional economy around Austin.”

“These funds recognize national leadership by the city of Austin in pursuing Zero Waste goals,” said Representative Lloyd Doggett. “This project will reduce our carbon footprint, create economic opportunity, and keep dollars circulating in the local economy.”

"It’s a big win for Austin to be receiving this grant from the Economic Development Administration,” said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “Our Remanufacturing Hub is sure to attract green businesses that can turn our residents’ recyclables into new products. Also, I understand it’s estimated this project will leverage more than $30 million in private sector development, while creating up to 1,250 jobs,” he added.

EDA’s investment is another example of how infrastructure can be used in an innovative way toward forward-looking goals. The Austin [re]Manufacturing Hub will be the nexus for green jobs in the recycling, reuse and repair industry to support Austin's Zero Waste goals and will provide the economic driver for jobs and investment through waste-based industry in the Central Austin region. The infrastructure will not simply provide utility service to this project, but will drive economic development opportunities along a currently underdeveloped corridor in Austin, Texas, ultimately leading to jobs for economically distressed areas of Austin and unincorporated Travis County as well as Central Texas.

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.