Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Build Operations Center at the Choctaw Nation Emerging Aviation Technology Center in Durant, Oklahoma

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, Oklahoma, to build an operations center at the Choctaw Nation Emerging Aviation Technology Center.

“President Biden is committed to supporting Tribal communities and creating economic opportunity and jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will help build an operations center that will serve as a hub for conducting research, development, testing, and evaluation of emerging technologies in aviation and unmanned aerial system technologies.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Michele Chang, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy. “The Operations Building will add to the Tribe’s efforts to create jobs and a more resilient regional economy.”

“Oklahoma has a long history of leadership in aviation and aerospace and this EDA funding from the CARES Act will be put to good use—building an operations center for the Choctaw Nation’s Emerging Aviation Technology Center,” said Senator Jim Inhofe. “I look forward to all the good that will be done at this new center and to continue working to secure funding for Oklahoma.”

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 invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.