Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $915,120 in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Travel and Tourism Sectors in Las Vegas, Nevada

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $915,120 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Nevada System of Higher Education, Las Vegas, Nevada, to support the post-pandemic revitalization of Nevada’s travel and tourism sectors. This EDA grant, to be matched with $228,780 in local investment, is expected to create 13 jobs and retain 120 jobs.

“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Maiea Sellers, Acting Director of EDA’s Seattle Regional Office. “This EDA investment will support the University of Nevada at Las Vegas’s Hospitality and Entertainment COVID-19 Labs in providing business resilience consultation to small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.”

“I’m so glad to see the University of Nevada, Las Vegas get these EDA funds to support programs to revitalize our hard-hit tourism and travel industry,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “This is exactly why I worked so hard to advocate for these resources to aid Nevada, so that states like ours that depend on these industries would have the support they need to recover from the pandemic.”

“Travel and tourism play a critical role in the success of Nevada’s economy,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, these key industries were hit hard, resulting in business closures, job losses, and economic hardship for Nevada’s communities. In the Senate, in my role as Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, I have been committed to reviving travel and tourism in Nevada. I am glad to see that this Economic Development Administration grant – funded through the CARES Act, which I proudly supported – will help restore our state’s travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors to their pre-pandemic vitality. I will continue working to ensure that Nevada and its industries have the resources they need to fully recover from the challenges of this pandemic.”

“As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, I am proud of my work to secure these dollars in support of Southern Nevada’s economic recovery,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01). “UNLV has one of the nation’s premiere hospitality programs, and these grant dollars will further support our travel and hospitality small businesses as they navigate the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.”

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.