Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.6 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Indiana Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $3.6 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to nine EDA Economic Development District organizations across Indiana 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 Indiana with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

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

“These funds will help Hoosiers throughout Indiana respond to the unique needs of their communities,” said Governor Eric Holcomb. “I appreciate our federal partners’ commitment to supporting the programs and resources needed for us to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic stronger than ever.”

“River Hills Economic Development Corporation has always been a strong force on behalf Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington counties,” said Congressman Trey Hollingsworth (IN-09). “Throughout this pandemic, they’ve stepped up to help Hoosiers navigate the available resources, and I look forward to how this grant will assist in helping southern Indiana get back on its feet.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission, Ferdinand, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing strategies to become more resilient; enhancing the region’s public infrastructure; implementing strategies to grow the critical manufacturing, forestry and wood products, advanced materials, transportation equipment, tourism, and agricultural sectors; hiring additional staff; and supporting workforce needs.
• Michiana Area Council of Governments, South Bend, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing its technical assistance capabilities and organizational capacities to continue to be a valuable regional resource for aiding recovery and resiliency efforts.
• Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Portage, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing an economic resiliency plan to address short-term and long-term economic development impacts and aid in economic recovery for future pandemics and disasters; hiring staff to provide capacity-building and technical assistance to local communities for recovery and resiliency; helping Northwest Indiana continue to be a talent-attractor in the Chicago regional economy.
• River Hills Economic Development Corporation, Jeffersonville, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by increasing their capacity to assist their local communities with large job-creating initiatives; developing both a disaster preparedness plan for future pandemics and a marketing plan to help stimulate the current and future growth of the region.
• Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Versailles, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing an economic resilience and response plan, building staff and organizational capacity, and implementing response programs.
• Southern Indiana Development Commission, Loogootee, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by implementing resiliency strategies that support local business and grow the needed infrastructure to assure entrepreneurship can thrive in rural Indiana.
• West Central Indiana Economic Development District, Terre Haute, Indiana, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by formulating and enacting strategies to help the business sectors recover from the effects of the pandemic while supporting the needs of the region’s workforce.
• Region III-A Development & Regional Planning Commission, Kendallville, Indiana, will receive a $396,800 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by adding staff to assist communities with grant applications, focusing on addressing unemployment, and providing funds to assist small, locally-owned businesses with their e-commerce efforts.
• Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, Monon, Indiana, will receive a $377,424 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by creating a recovery and resiliency plan; conducting a tourism study; and providing technical assistance to local agencies and other development assistance.

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.