Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.5 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Wisconsin Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $2.5 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to eight EDA Economic Development District and Native American organizations across Wisconsin to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

“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 Wisconsin with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

“These investments come at a crucial time to help Wisconsin’s 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 these investments in Wisconsin’s EDA Economic Development District and Native American planning organizations to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Platteville, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing support for community and small business marketing, developing strategies to boost the region’s critical tourism sector, and developing projects to increase access and investment in broadband internet access.
• West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by offering technical assistance to units of government and nonprofits.
• East Central Regional Planning Commission, Menasha, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by working with communities and partner organizations on implementing strategies that focus on economic recovery and resiliency from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
• North Central Regional Planning Commission, Ridgway, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing an economic recovery strategy and providing local technical assistance to restart the diverse economy of north central Wisconsin.
• Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Spooner, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing resiliency planning; response and recovery capacity; and technical support and outreach to government, local businesses, the public health community, and other regional stakeholders that have been impacted by coronavirus.
• Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, Green Bay, Wisconsin, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by conducting outreach to identify deficiencies in the region; providing technical assistance to municipalities; developing strategy plans to help boost the region’s tourism, manufacturing, and industry sectors; hiring an additional staff person; and supporting workforce needs throughout the region.
• Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, will receive a $150,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing and implementing strategies to guide tourism recovery initiatives in the 11 tribal economies in Wisconsin.

These seven entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD) or Native American Planning organizations, are some 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.

WASHINGTON

This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) program, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

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.