Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests to Support Entrepreneurial Growth in Russell, Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $860,000 grant to the Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Inc., Russell, Pennsylvania, to assist in the creation of the Pennsylvania Wilds Maker Marketplace and virtual retail platform. The grant, to be matched with $277,500 in local investment, is expected to create 75 jobs.

“The Trump Administration is committed to not only retaining jobs in this country, but also to taking action that creates new opportunities for Americans,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “This investment will provide a virtual platform for the sale and distribution of manufactured items on the internet, expand the number of businesses participating in the maker marketplace, and provide technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and small manufacturers.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. EDA funds the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission to help 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.