Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million to Build New Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in South Carolina

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Piedmont Technical College, Inc. of Greenwood, South Carolina, to construct a new building to house the Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence on the college’s Greenwood campus. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 86 jobs, and spur more than $16 million in private investment.

“Ensuring that every American in the workforce has the skills to succeed in the face of stiff global competition is a top priority for the Trump Administration and our President,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Giving Americans the option of developing new skills in their own communities will help fuel further economic growth.”

This project will construct and provide the necessary infrastructure needed to establish the new manufacturing training center. The facility will allow the college to expand its workforce training offerings in support of advanced manufacturing to meet the demands of the region’s industries. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Upper Savannah Council of Governments. EDA helps fund the Upper Savannah Council of Governments to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

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.