Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $824,000 in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Improvements at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $824,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the National World War II Museum, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, for campus site improvements and for audio and visual technical systems. This EDA grant, to be matched with $230,945 in local investment, is expected to create 63 jobs, retain 7 jobs, and generate $350,000 in private investment.

“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping our tourism sector get back up to speed and putting Americans back to work,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This EDA investment will allow for campus improvements at the National World War II Museum, including the addition of audio and visual technical systems for a new exhibit that will bolster tourism in New Orleans, providing new job and economic opportunities.”

“Tourism is critical to economic opportunity in our state, especially in New Orleans, which has felt the deep impact of COVID-19 and lockdowns,” said Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. “The National World War II Museum is a treasure in our backyard and this grant ensures it welcomes back visitors better than before.”

The investment will fund campus improvements for the development of “Expressions of America,” a nighttime immersive sound and light experience that honors and celebrates the men and women of World War II.

This project was made possible by the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (NORPC)’s regional planning efforts, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

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.