Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Make Water Infrastructure Improvements Needed to Grow the Automotive Sector in Greer, South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Greer Commission of Public Works, Greer, South Carolina, to construct a new pump station needed to accommodate the expansion of the region’s automotive sector. This EDA project, to be matched with $2.2 million in state and local funds, is expected to create 600 jobs and generate $600 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to helping communities grow their critical business clusters to improve regional economies across the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Greer Commission of Public Works will accommodate the expansion plans of a major foreign-owned automotive manufacturer and boost the region’s capacity to support the future growth of its automotive sector.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the city of Greer’s strategy to create new economic opportunity and jobs,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This project will provide the reliable sewer service that established and future automotive manufacturing and other businesses need to expand and grow.”

“This is big news for the auto industry in the Upstate as well as the surrounding communities,” said Senator Lindsey Graham. “This grant will allow us to make much-needed improvements and continue to attract even more high-paying jobs to the area. I appreciate the EDA working to turn this into reality. South Carolina is already a great place to do business, and this grant will help to make the local area even more attractive for future investments.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments, 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.

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.