Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests to Support Natural Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Efforts in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $740,000 grant to the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to support the creation of an economic recovery and resiliency plan to mitigate future flooding and storm-related impacts in the villages of Ontario, Readstown, Viola, and La Farge. The EDA grant is expected to be matched with $185,000 in local investment.

“The Trump Administration is working diligently to create American jobs and keep U.S. businesses thriving, even in the face of unforeseen natural disasters,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “EDA’s long history of successfully supporting disaster recovery and resiliency efforts lends itself perfectly to helping the MRRPC create a plan that will build Wisconsin communities back stronger and mitigate any future storm damage.”

Severe storms, floods, tornadoes and landslides affected the project area between August and September of 2018. With assistance from EDA, MRRPC will provide analysis to ensure that affected communities have customized approaches to economic recovery. In addition, the analysis will determine the safest sites for businesses, industry workforce housing, community facilities, and public infrastructure in the event of future disasters.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.

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.