Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Airport Hangar Expansion in Roswell, New Mexico

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of Roswell, New Mexico, to construct an airport hangar addition at the Roswell Air Center and support business expansion. This EDA grant is expected to create 45 jobs and retain 30 jobs.

“The Biden Administration is committed to supporting new ways to put Americans back to work following the pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the city of Roswell will support construction to expand an airport hangar, providing new opportunities for business development and job creation in the community.”

“Supporting new job opportunities and strengthening the regional economy will help communities build back better from the pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The construction supported by this EDA investment will expand Hangar 84 at the Roswell Air Center and enable it to accommodate larger aircraft, providing capacity for aerospace businesses to expand and create well-paying, quality jobs.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic took a major toll on small and local airports that connect communities all across New Mexico to tourism, business opportunities, and commercial aviation,” said Senator Martin Heinrich. “That’s why I fought to secure funding in the CARES Act that is allowing airports like Roswell Air Center to build upon their facilities and bring in new jobs. I will keep fighting to strengthen all of New Mexico’s airports so that they can continue playing a key role in our state’s economic recovery.”

“The Roswell Air Center is a critical transportation lifeline for southeastern New Mexico – bringing new opportunities and bolstering economic development in the region,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján. “This important investment will support new jobs and opportunities for New Mexicans, while constructing a needed hangar expansion to enhance aerospace opportunities.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeastern New Mexico Economic Development District (SNMEDD). EDA funds SNMEDD 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.