Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.1 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Georgia Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $4.1 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to 11 EDA Economic Development District organizations across Georgia 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 Georgia with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

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

“Communities across Georgia have done a remarkable job at adapting to these uncertain times,” said Senator Kelly Loeffler. “These EDA investments will support those efforts by helping small businesses and cities from Athens down to Valdosta not only recover from the coronavirus but also grow their local economies over the long term. I am proud to be working with Secretary Ross and the Trump administration to create jobs and bring our economy roaring back.”

“The CARES Act continues to provide direct support to our district and state,” said Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01). “I thank the Administration for ensuring this funding is going to help our communities recover and respond to COVID-19.”

“The 2nd Congressional District was one of the first places hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and of course our local businesses were not spared any impact,” said Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02). “I am pleased our hard work in the Appropriations Committee produced these grants for Middle and Southwest Georgia’s local businesses, which keep our vibrant communities thriving.”

“This critical grant funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will provide much needed assistance to our businesses – both big and small – as they work to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19,” said Congressman Jodi Hice (GA-10). “Georgia has consistently ranked as the top state in the country to do business, and Georgians can expect to see our economy boom again.”

“Throughout this crisis, the communities in Georgia’s 11th Congressional District have been working valiantly together, not only to fight this virus, but also to get Georgia’s economy back on track,” said Congressman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11). “This $4.1 million CARES grant from the Economic Development Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce will undoubtedly help in our efforts snap-back our economy, and create more great jobs for hardworking Georgians. I want to thank the Trump Administration, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and the men and women of Georgia’s 11 Regional Commissions, for their steadfast commitment and support in working with us to ensure that we recover from this crisis, and come back stronger than ever.”

“As communities and businesses throughout Georgia’s 12th District continue to respond and recover from the impact of COVID-19, these investments into the Central Savannah River Area, Heart of Georgia and Southern Georgia Regional Commissions are critical,” said Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12). “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and funding from the CARES Act, I have no doubt our economy will quickly rebound.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing strategies to boost economic investment in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport area; providing local economic data to support impact analysis; and providing training and strategy development for local governments and others to support local businesses.
• Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Gainesville, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by boosting the region’s economy through recovery and resilience strategies designed to build stronger and more vibrant communities.
• Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Macon, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by undertaking planning and technical assistance to meet both short-term recovery and long-term resiliency goals of the middle Georgia region. Recovery planning will focus on expanding the diversity and accessibility of job opportunities, especially related to the availability of broadband Internet services to businesses. Long-term resiliency goals for middle Georgia include encouraging regional innovation.
• Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Athens, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing and implementing short- and long-range initiatives to support communities, and building economic resilience through enhanced public-private-nonprofit partnerships and coordinated, on-the-ground assistance throughout Northeast Georgia.
• Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Rome, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region.
• River Valley Regional Commission, Columbus, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by boosting staff capacity to work directly with local communities and chambers of commerce. Efforts will also help promote important regional tourism sites.
• Southern Georgia Regional Commission, Valdosta, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing and implementing economic recovery strategies to rebuild resilient and sustainable communities.
• Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, Camilla, Georgia, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing tools to aid in economic recovery and developing a regional plan to create a resilient region in partnership with local government, community groups, businesses and educational institutions.
• Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission, Augusta, Georgia, will receive a $394,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region.
• Three Rivers Regional Commission, Griffin, Georgia, will receive a $310,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by establishing a disaster recovery coordinator position which will focus on working with local stakeholders.
• Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, Eastman, Georgia, will receive a $165,132 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region.

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.