Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Pipeline Workforce Training Efforts in Fairbanks, Alaska

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center Trust, Fairbanks, Alaska, to acquire heavy-duty equipment needed to expand workforce training efforts. This EDA grant, to be matched with $499,040 in local investment, is expected to create 12,300 jobs, retain 5,000 jobs, and generate $10.5 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to unleashing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds back stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center Trust will expand their capacity to train students in pipeline operation and maintenance to support growing workforce demands in the oil and gas, mining, and construction sectors.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The equipment to be acquired with this EDA investment will expand student training for in-demand jobs to increase the resiliency of the regional economy in response to the pandemic.”

“The Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center Trust has provided excellent workforce training for Alaskans for many years and is a model for the nation,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “I am pleased that the Trust has received this grant to expand their efforts to prepare Alaskans for well-paying jobs in pipeline operation and maintenance, mining, and construction. I am hopeful that the award of this grant signals the Administration’s commitment to supporting oil and gas exploration and development in Alaska, and to supporting construction projects generally throughout our state.”

“Alaska needs trained, skilled workers to maintain our existing infrastructure, and to prepare for the economic opportunities that will come from new energy developments on the North Slope,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “The Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center has kept pace with the demand for resource development, construction, and associated trade professionals, and provided great opportunities for high-paying jobs for thousands of hard-working Alaskans. The EDA grant announced today is a sizable investment in the training center, in our own workforce, and in Alaska’s future.”

“Workforce training is essential for ensuring that Alaska has access to a high-skilled labor pool. This is especially true as our state and nation begin to turn a corner in the fight against COVID-19,” said Congressman Don Young. “Recovery is on the horizon, and the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center will play an even larger role in the Interior’s economy. This grant funding will go a long way toward bolstering economic opportunity by helping Alaskans secure high-paying jobs to support their families. I am grateful to the EDA for making these significant investments in the people of our great state.”

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. 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.

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.