Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Business Growth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Award is Part of the Department of Commerce’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.2 million grant to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to build infrastructure and develop the Kneeland Properties site. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan and EDA’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment.

This grant will support industrial development and create jobs in a community impacted by the declining use of coal. The EDA investment will be matched with $798,540 in local funds and is expected to create 140 jobs and generate $10.5 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan offers direct relief to American communities as they work to build a better America for the future,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide critical infrastructure needed to build economic resiliency and ensure that Milwaukee is well positioned to attract businesses and good-paying jobs.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support locally-driven strategies to boost economic recovery efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA award will bring private investment, jobs and hope to a distressed neighborhood in Milwaukee and ensure that economic prosperity reaches all pockets of this nation.”

“From revitalizing main streets across the state to supporting projects to build new business hubs, I’m proud of our work to make long-term investments in economic development that will transform communities across Wisconsin,” said Governor Tony Evers. “This project will help ensure we continue to support our local communities, and with this federal grant, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee will be able to build the infrastructure needed to continue developing the Menomonee Valley site, creating 140 new jobs and leading to millions of dollars in private investments.”

“I voted for the American Rescue Plan because it supports our Made in Wisconsin economy and invests in communities across our state,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This federal investment from the Biden Administration will help build vital infrastructure in the city of Milwaukee to attract new businesses, create nearly 150 jobs, and ensure all parts of Milwaukee are moving forward.”

“Developing the Kneeland Properties site will transform this into a space of promise and opportunities,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04). “This effort is another example of how the American Rescue Plan invests in the recovery, growth, and revitalization of our communities. I am excited about the jobs and economic growth this grant will create for my constituents and Milwaukee.”

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.

EDA’s Coal Communities Commitment allocates $300 million of EDA’s $3 billion American Rescue Plan appropriation to support coal communities as they recover from the pandemic and to help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. Specifically, EDA has dedicated $100 million of its Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds and $200 million of its Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to directly support coal communities. 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.