Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Ohio Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to five EDA Economic Development District organizations across Ohio 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 Ohio with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

“These investments come at a crucial time to help Ohio’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 Ohio’s EDA Economic Development Districts to help them prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.”

“The $2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants announced by Secretary Ross is terrific news for folks across the state of Ohio,” said Senator Rob Portman. “These funds will help ensure that communities across Ohio have the resources they need to continue responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I’m pleased to see this CARES Act rescue money helping local communities so they can continue to serve Ohioans as the state continues to safely reopen. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure Ohioans have the resources they need during these uncertain times.”

“The COVID-19 shutdowns took a particularly tough toll on our rural communities, which saw few or no COVID cases,” said Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02). “It’s important that we help those communities recover by providing financial support to small business in those communities to help mitigate hardships and aid in recovery. I’m pleased to see these critical CARES Act funds come back to Southern and Southwestern Ohio.”

“As the economy in Northeast Ohio continues to lead the way on electric vehicles and battery storage, this grant for Eastgate Regional Council of Governments will be a shot in the arm for securing the supply chain against future disruptive events,” said Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13). “Additionally, the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization grant will help them continue their work driving innovation in the manufacturing and health care sectors. I am proud of these two organizations and their efforts in making Northeast Ohio a great place to live and work.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Youngstown, Ohio, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing support for the growth of the logistics, electric vehicle transportation, and advanced manufacturing technologies sectors, with an emphasis on workforce development and infrastructure; and developing a comprehensive strategic response plan to mitigate future disruptions in critical material supply chains.
• Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization, Akron, Ohio, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by creating a comprehensive economic recovery and resiliency plan; providing technical assistance; and facilitating collaborative partnerships, while building on the region’s strengths, including in the manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology sectors.
• Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Cambridge, Ohio, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by performing a broadband feasibility study that will serve as a framework for providing broadband services to help facilitate e-commerce, telework, telehealth, and tele-education; and retaining an economic recovery coordinator, who will provide technical assistance.
• Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, Waverly, Ohio, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by contracting two recovery coordinators who will assist in developing and implementing strategies to boost tourism, grow the region’s critical manufacturing sector, and build a robust broadband network to support business growth, access to telehealth and online education efforts.
• Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, Marietta, Ohio, will receive a $398,247 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing short-term planning strategies that will build capacity and provide local partners with the technical assistance needed to support economic recovery and resilience.

These entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD), 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.

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.