Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Build Critical Infrastructure and Support Tourism and Business Growth in Dyersville, Iowa

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of Dyersville, Iowa, to create and expand water and wastewater infrastructure to support tourism and business growth. This EDA grant, to be matched with $1 million in local funds, is expected to create 350 jobs and generate $90 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing 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 M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Dyersville will provide critical infrastructure to support local and regional tourism needs and business development opportunities.”

“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. “This EDA investment will provide new water and wastewater infrastructure while expanding existing systems, in order to extend services to the Field of Dreams and All-Star Ballpark Heaven and to the planned Dyersville East Industrial Park, resulting in job creation for the region.”

“I’m glad to see the EDA award a $1.5 million grant to Dyersville,” said Senator Chuck Grassley. “This investment will help the city enhance and expand their water and wastewater infrastructure. Investments into our communities like this are good for the local business, tourism and overall economic growth.”

“This is great news and will have a big economic impact in Dyersville,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01). “This infrastructure investment will improve and expand wastewater management systems, helping drive additional tourism to Field of Dreams and the All-Star Ballpark Heaven and create new jobs in the community.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA). EDA funds ECIA 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 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.