Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million to Support Business Growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Findlay Township in Pennsylvania to upgrade critical water infrastructure that serves existing and planned business parks. According to grantee estimates, the project will create 2,420 jobs in manufacturing, research and development, and hospitality, among other sectors, and generate $783 million in investment in the form of new construction.
“The Obama Administration is committed to improving our nation’s infrastructure, which is crucial for both economic growth and job creation,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA grant announced today will help Findlay Township industrial parks attract and retain businesses and investment in the community.”
Findlay Township has invested in its infrastructure to take advantage of the job creation potential of commercial and industrial sites in the vicinity of the Pittsburgh International Airport. In 2014, EDA supported these efforts when it gave Findlay Township a $1.8 million grant for a water infrastructure project, but the current waste water treatment facility still lacks sufficient capacity. The EDA investment announced today supports the construction of increased treatment capacity in the area served by the Findlay Township Municipal Authority near the Pittsburgh International Airport, a critical growth area for the Pittsburgh region of Southwest Pennsylvania. The project will propel growth of both publicly and privately-owned business parks in the area and create regional employment opportunities for employees residing in the many economically distressed communities of Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
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.