Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.4 Million for Wastewater Treatment Upgrades to Support Business Growth in Sheffield, Alabama

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4.4 million grant to the city of Sheffield, Alabama, to make wastewater treatment upgrades needed to support economic growth and job creation. The EDA grant will be matched with $1.4 million in local investment.

“President Biden is committed to supporting communities in developing safe and resilient infrastructure to serve businesses and create American jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide critical infrastructure improvements necessary to support diversified economic growth and job creation in the region.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the city of Sheffield as it works to create sustainable infrastructure for the community,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will connect a new lift station to the wastewater treatment plant and provide a diesel-powered generator for continuous operations during power outages, improving access to businesses and supporting job growth.”

“I am pleased that EDA continues to recognize the importance of investing in and developing the proper conditions necessary for economic growth,” said Senator Richard Shelby. “This $4.4 million federal grant will allow for needed improvements to the local wastewater infrastructure in Sheffield, cultivating an environment that can support future business expansion and job creation. This is great news for the area.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG). EDA funds NACOLG 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 by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.