Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Boost Business and Tourism Capacity in Northwest Pennsylvania

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Monday, July 28, 2014

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1 million grant to the Borough of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. The funding will support critical infrastructure improvements in the town’s central business district, which are to create 78 jobs and leverage $950,000 from local tourism industries, according to the grantee.

“The Obama Administration is committed to helping communities leverage their unique assets to grow and be competitive in today’s global economy,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA investment announced today will help Conneaut Lake make needed critical infrastructure upgrades that increase tourism and support the business community in Northwestern Pennsylvania.”

Conneaut Lake has a robust business community and is a major regional tourist attraction. To support redevelopment and the town’s ability to attract new businesses and amenities, infrastructure upgrades are needed to replace dilapidated sidewalks and other failing infrastructure. EDA’s investment will support improvements to the central business district to remove worn out public infrastructure, including the water and sewer systems, to help the community leverage private investment and create new jobs for local residents.

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.