Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests Nearly $1.3 Million to Support Job Creation and Retention in Western Maryland
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Monday, September 21, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a nearly $1.3 million grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Garrett County, Maryland to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant system serving businesses in Western Maryland. According to the grantee, this project will create 500 jobs over the next nine years and result in the immediate retention of existing jobs in the area.
“The Obama Administration is committed to ensuring our nation’s infrastructure supports America’s businesses,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA investment announced today will enable existing businesses in Western Maryland to maintain and expand operations, creating jobs and economic growth for the region.”
“This federal funding is great news for Western Maryland communities because it will support the creation of jobs today and jobs tomorrow,” said U.S. Senator Mikulski, Vice Chairwoman of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Commerce Department. “Maryland cities and towns need to upgrade their water and sewer infrastructure but they can't do it on their own. I went to bat for Garrett County to secure this federal grant funding to make needed upgrades and updates to critical water and sewer infrastructure. I will continue to fight for infrastructure upgrades for Western Maryland to support a long-term roadmap for jobs and economic development.”
“This federal grant for Garrett County means jobs today and modern infrastructure to support future development. For each public dollar we put into water infrastructure, we see an increase in private long-term GDP output of more than six dollars,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, author of S. 741, The Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act. “The residents of Garrett County deserve the quality of life improvements that come with proactive federal investments in roads, bridges and water systems. Investing in water infrastructure is the right thing to do for our environment, economy and public health.”
EDA’s investment will assist Garrett County in the installation of a regional wastewater treatment plant system that will also impact job creation in neighboring states West Virginia and Pennsylvania. According to the grantee, the plant will enable future expansion of businesses at the Keyser Ridge Business Park, creating jobs in manufacturing and distribution.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The Economic Development Administration marks 50 years of public service, leading 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.