Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $6.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Business Expansion and Development in St. George, South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $6.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Dorchester County, South Carolina, to make roadway improvements at the Ridgeville Industrial Campus needed to support business attraction and expansion efforts and bolster the region’s ability to withstand future economic disruptions. This EDA grant will be matched with $1.7 million in local funds.

“President Biden is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate the economic hardships of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will help attract new business and jobs to Dorchester County and strengthen the regional economy by aiding in the expansion of the Ridgeville Industrial Campus.”

“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 roadway improvements supported through this EDA investment will improve Dorchester County’s ability to create new business and job opportunities.”

“With South Carolina’s ports growing every year – and the unprecedented investment that brings to the state – we must continue to invest in reliable infrastructure throughout the state,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “This $6.8 million investment will work towards ensuring the long-term prosperity of Dorchester County by supplying our world-class businesses with the resources they need to thrive for generations to come.”

“This is big news for the region and the state,” said Senator Lindsey Graham. “This funding will allow Dorchester County to make necessary infrastructure improvements to support the Ridgeville Industrial Campus. I appreciate the EDA’s work to help turn this into reality. The Palmetto State is a great place to live and work, and this grant will help to create even more positive economic activity in the Lowcountry.”

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Commerce is using funds made available through the CARES Act to address roadway infrastructure needs at the Ridgeville Industrial Campus in Dorchester County,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06). “This investment will help the county bounce back from the pandemic by providing the necessary resources to attract new jobs and boost the local economy. I applaud the Biden Administration for their commitment to helping local communities of South Carolina and around the country build back better.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, which EDA funds. Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments brings 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 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.