Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.7 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping South Dakota Respond to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1.7 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to five EDA Economic Development District organizations in South Dakota 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 South Dakota with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”

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

“While South Dakota’s economy has largely withstood the brunt of this pandemic, this funding will help put our state in an even better position to come out of these tough times even stronger,” said Senator John Thune. “I was proud to support the CARES Act, I’m grateful that South Dakota continues to benefit from the assistance it created.”

“As South Dakota continues to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19, it’s important our local governments have the opportunity to utilize funding from the CARES Act to speed up the recovery,” said Congressman Dusty Johnson. “These grants will allow our communities in South Dakota to bounce back faster and stronger and I’m glad they are being utilized by good hands.”

The EDA investments announced today are:

• South Eastern Council of Governments, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to local businesses and communities.
• Central South Dakota Enhancement District, Pierre, South Dakota, will receive a $398,677 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing a technology platform with resources for small businesses and economic developers in the region; incorporating cloud-based technology to assist local governments with maintaining vital government functions; and developing a regional economic development response and resiliency plan.
• First District Association of Local Governments, Watertown, South Dakota, will receive a $376,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by coordinating recovery efforts to diversify the regional economies, create jobs, and foster economic resiliency.
• Black Hills Council of Local Governments, Rapid City, South Dakota, will receive a $292,870 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by hiring additional staff to assist local governments and regional economic development organizations; providing technical assistance and support for remote and virtual meetings; and implementing planning mechanisms to help offset long-term impacts on the economy.
• Northeast Council of Governments, Aberdeen, South Dakota, will receive a $253,670 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by assisting communities and businesses with tools to boost their local economies.

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.