Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost Capacity for Business Growth in Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million grant to the Santo Domingo Tribe, Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, to make wastewater infrastructure improvements needed to support local business needs. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This EDA investment will support the replacement of aging and deteriorating wastewater infrastructure in the Santo Domingo Pueblo to improve service for new and existing businesses. This investment is a good example of EDA’s commitment to Indigenous communities, as well as to addressing Equity as one of its top investment priorities.

“President Biden is committed to supporting Tribal communities in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA American Rescue Plan project will provide the modern infrastructure the Tribe needs to ensure that Tribal enterprises can grow and thrive.”

“Tribal communities were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will ensure that the Santo Domingo Pueblo is positioned to support its businesses well into the future.”

“These American Rescue Plan funds will allow the Santo Domingo Pueblo to update their water infrastructure and meet the needs of local businesses,” said Senator Martin Heinrich. “Upgrading these systems means new jobs, more sustainable economic growth, and stronger communities. I’m proud that the Biden administration has made support for Tribal infrastructure development a priority and I’m pleased to see the American Rescue Plan make this all possible.”

“I was proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan and the investments it is making in New Mexico communities. The Santo Domingo Pueblo will receive $2.2 million in federal investments to make improvements in wastewater infrastructure that will help local entrepreneurs and businesses thrive,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján. “Access to running water and wastewater facilities was an enormous risk factor for many rural and Tribal households throughout the pandemic, and I am glad to see federal COVID-19 relief funding being directed at measures like this that will make our local communities and economies stronger. Tribes and Pueblos in New Mexico were hit hard by COVID-19, and I will continue supporting efforts to help New Mexicans recover and rebuild from the pandemic.”

“We welcome this investment from the American Rescue Plan for the Santo Domingo Tribe that will improve wastewater infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “These funds will support local businesses and promote economic development and the well-being of Native communities.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD). EDA funds NCNMEDD 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 EDA’s American Rescue Plan Indigenous Communities program, which allocates $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding specifically to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities. The program supports these partners to develop and execute economic development projects they need to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Indigenous communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply under all of EDA’s other programs.

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.