Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support the Aviation Sector in Outagamie County, Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Outagamie County, Wisconsin, for road and utility infrastructure upgrades at the Appleton Aviation Business Park. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This grant will fund construction of a roadway and provide for stormwater management, fencing, and other utilities needed to provide access to approximately 10 large development sites at the business park, attracting new business opportunities to the region. The EDA investment will be matched with $940,000 in local funds and is expected to create 500 jobs, retain 500 jobs and generate $25 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to ensuring that our communities are provided with the resources they need to diversify and grow their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will attract private investment and create new jobs for the people of Northeast Wisconsin, helping to boost U.S. competitiveness on the global stage.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support locally-driven strategies to boost business recovery efforts in Wisconsin,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will build economic resiliency in Outagamie County for decades by creating new jobs in the aviation sector and diversifying the local economy.”

“I’m proud of our work these past three years prioritizing economic development and bolstering our roads and infrastructure, including investing nearly $300 million to expand access to high-speed internet, by improving more than 4,600 miles of local roads and highways, and supporting innovative solutions to meet our state’s workforce needs,” said Governor Tony Evers. “This $3 million grant will help us continue building on our efforts while generating millions in additional regional investment and creating hundreds of quality, family-supporting jobs for Appleton and the surrounding area.”

“I voted for the American Rescue Plan because it delivers direct support to our Made in Wisconsin economy and businesses,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This federal investment from the Biden Administration will provide infrastructure upgrades to attract new businesses to the Appleton Aviation Business Park, creating jobs and driving private investment in the region’s growing aviation sector.”

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.

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.