Press Release

U.S. Economic Development Administration Invests More Than $900,000 to Support Workforce Development in Memphis, Tennessee

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Tuesday, April 7, 2015

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $904,588 grant to Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tennessee, to construct a business and industry training center on the Macon Campus. According to the grantee, the project will create 52 jobs and save 33 jobs in industries including information technology and bulk commodities shipping.

“Workforce development is a key priority for the Obama Administration, and many efforts are underway at the Department of Commerce and EDA to bolster training efforts [nationwide?],” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. “The EDA grant announced today will help ensure that the people of southwest Tennessee are receiving the training they need to compete for jobs that are available and need filling now.”

EDA’s investment will facilitate the construction of a new career development and training facility to be located on the Southwest Tennessee Community College's Macon Cove Campus located in Memphis, Tennessee. According to the grantee, the facility will help meet regional industry demand by enhancing capacity in the region’s Industrial Readiness Training (IRT) program to teach entry level skills in Advanced Industrial Technology Process Control, Advanced Industrial Logistics Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing. Several companies have committed to creating jobs as a result of this project, including Transloading Services, Smith & Nephew, Tate Computer Systems, Inc., and Cook Systems International.

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.