Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $813,620 to Make Disaster Resilient Improvements in Port Washington, Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $813,620 grant to the city of Port Washington, Wisconsin, to install permanent backup generators that will ensure uninterrupted service at the city’s wastewater and water treatment plants during disasters. The EDA grant, to be matched with $203,405 in local investment, is expected to create nearly 570 jobs and retain 1,255 jobs.

“The Trump Administration is working diligently to help communities impacted by natural disasters to both recover and build back stronger,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “A modern and reliable backup power source will ensure that Port Washington’s businesses and residents will not lose water and sewer services during a disaster.”

The new backup generators will ensure uninterrupted water service to local businesses, prevent untreated discharges into Lake Michigan, and increase the city’s resilience to future weather-related disasters.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.