Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $400,000 in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Region Respond to Coronavirus
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
June 23, 2020
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Arlington, Texas, to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the first EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance investment being made in the bureau’s Austin region.
“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Region with the necessary resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”
“This investment comes at a crucial time to help Texas’ and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make this investment in the North Central Texas Council of Governments to develop recovery and resiliency plans and deploy staff to provide technical assistance, encourage partnerships, and preserve and enhance regional assets as they begin to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.”
“I thank our partners at EDA for providing this financial relief to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Our communities have done an incredible job throughout the state’s response to COVID-19, but the effects of this virus have taken an unprecedented economic toll. This grant will give our local leaders the resources they need to provide for their communities as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and keep Texans safe.”
“The coronavirus outbreak has hit Texans hard, and as much as we can protect each other from its effects, we must,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for making North Texas an important priority during the outbreak.”
“I’m proud of how Texans have stood together in the face of these unprecedented challenges,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “Texans have taken extraordinary steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and protect their neighbors. I’m grateful the Department of Commerce is getting real relief in the hands of North Texas job creators, so we can get more Texans back to work and our economy back on its feet.”
North Central Texas Council of Governments, an EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD), is one of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA EDD, University Center, Tribal, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.
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.