Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Protect Businesses from Flooding in Wells, Nevada

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the city of Wells, Nevada, to make critical water infrastructure improvements needed to maintain commercial and industrial operations during significant flood events. The EDA grant, to be matched with more than $270,000 in local investment, is expected to create 45 jobs and spur $10 million in private investment.

“The Trump Administration is working hard to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and improve economic resilience in the wake of natural disasters,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “These investments in the city of Wells will support new flood prevention infrastructure to protect business and industry.”

“This investment will include renovating and building new culverts as well as deepening and improving existing storm water channels,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “These improvements provide the stability the northeast Nevada business community needs to withstand future flood events.”

“Making critical investments in Nevada’s infrastructure is one of my top priorities in the United States Senate,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “The $2 million awarded to Wells will ensure our critical water infrastructure receives much needed improvements so that our local businesses, industries and communities can continue to operate and safely recover from serious floods. I’ll continue to work in a bipartisan way to make sure Nevada gets its fair share of federal resources and that our remote communities in Nevada receive the investments they need to thrive.”

“During this period of uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we work to strengthen and assist economically distressed communities’ ability to respond to disaster,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “I applaud the EDA for awarding this grant which will go a long way toward protecting the city of Wells from flooding. I will continue working to ensure that all of Nevada’s communities are given the tools to overcome any obstacle they are faced with.”

This project is funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), in which Congress appropriated to EDA $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, wildfires, and other calendar year 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.

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.