Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.9 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood Project in Kenosha, Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4.9 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, for road and sewer infrastructure improvements at the 107-acre Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood project. This EDA grant, to be matched with $7.4 million in local funds, is expected to create 1,000 jobs and generate $500 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to helping communities not only recover from this pandemic but build back stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Kenosha will attract manufacturing and innovation sector businesses and jobs to the region while simultaneously increasing workforce development programs.”

“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 EDA-funded infrastructure improvements will revitalize the vacant Chrysler manufacturing plant and pave the way for an industrial park development and workforce training center that will help create a new generation of in-demand manufacturing talent.”

“Kenosha has had a particularly tough year, and I’m grateful we will be able to use these resources to help support Kenosha’s continued economic recovery,” said Governor Tony Evers. “These investments connect the dots by making vital infrastructure improvements while creating good, family-supporting jobs in Southeast Wisconsin.”

“I am pleased to see the EDA award a $4.9 million grant to the city of Kenosha,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This federal investment comes at a critical time for our pandemic recovery efforts and will help the Kenosha community build back stronger and better than before. Infrastructure improvements can’t wait and these federal funds will help create good-paying jobs and move the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood project forward.”

“Families and workers in the City of Kenosha will directly benefit from this targeted infrastructure investment,” said Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01). “I advocated in support of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN) project’s grant request earlier this year because of its potential to help people in our area. These federal funds can help Kenosha continue its efforts to improve its workforce skills development, assist its entrepreneurs, and improve job placement.”

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.