Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Boost Green Job Training Opportunities in Washington State
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Thursday, July 16, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Port of Port Angeles, Washington, to renovate an existing building in order to create workforce training facilities that specialize in recycling used composite materials. According to grantee estimates, this project will create 111 jobs.
“The Obama Administration has taken unprecedented steps to support workforce development and green initiatives and is deeply committed to strengthening America’s workforce and protecting the environment,” said Secretary Pritzker. “This EDA investment supports recycling and environmental stewardship and will provide critical job training in Washington.”
With EDA’s investment, this facility will engage area community colleges and other public and private partners, by including office, meeting, laboratory, and common spaces, in addition to manufacturing development and demonstration space. According to the grantee, few facilities are currently available to address the waste composite issue, which is anticipated to increase as the use of composites grows within the aerospace, automobile, and other manufacturing industries.
To help diversify Port Angeles’ economy, EDA has made other investments to support the recovery of this community that has been historically dependent on timber and logging. In September 2014, EDA invested $1.5 million in Port Angeles, Washington, to help rehabilitate a port terminal to expand the operating capacity of the Port and support job growth in the ship maintenance and repair industry and associated marine industries.
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.