Grant

April 4 - 11, 2024

EDA announced 15 investments from April 4 – 11, 2024, totaling $16,697,920 which is matched by $12,350,147 in local investments.  These investments include the following:

  1. $12,200,000 in five Economic Adjustment Assistance-2023 Disaster Supplemental projects to help regions that are experiencing severe economic distress or other economic hardship resulting from Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022 and to help save/create 670 jobs and leverage $65 million in private investment.
  2. $1,675,000 in one Economic Adjustment Assistance-2019 Disaster Supplemental project to support redevelopment and revitalization in the region after a natural disaster.
  3. $1,300,000 in one Economic Adjustment Assistance to help communities design and implement strategies to adjust or bring about change to their economy in response to structural damage to their underlying economic base.
  4. $1,522,920 in eight Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
  • $12,200,000 in five 2023 Disaster Supplemental projects, matched by $11,232,367 in local investments, as follows:
    • $1,700,000 to the Central Louisiana Regional Port, Alexandria/Rapides Parish, Louisiana, to support the Central Louisiana Regional Port (CLRP) with constructing an additional highwater hardstand area, a road for material movement during highwater events, and an additional entrance road to improve traffic flow and safety in the Alexandria, Louisiana community.  The project will help enhance the efficiency, safety, and overall operational capabilities of the port, as well as the community at large, especially during periods of high water.  Once completed, the project will help lay the groundwork for long-term economic vitality and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create/save 80 jobs and leverage $600,000 in private investment.
    • $2,000,000 to the Jefferson Parish Economic Development and Port District, Westwego/Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, to support the Jefferson Parish Economic Development and Port District with the design, engineering, and construction of a food and beverage incubator on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish serving the New Orleans-Metairie MSA and Southeast Louisiana regions.  The new incubator will fulfill a critical need in Greater New Orleans and will be the only facility of its kind in the region, providing small food and beverage (F&B) businesses and startups with much-needed commercial kitchen space and technical assistance to successfully operate and scale, including training in production, licensing, equipment, business plan development, marketing, labeling and packaging, food safety, distribution, financing, and other assistance.  Once completed, the project will boost economic resiliency, create jobs, and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help save 420 jobs and leverage $62.2 million in private investment.
    • $2,600,000 to the South-Central Planning and Development Commission, Houma/Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, to support the South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC) with addressing the local and regional need for housing programs and IT Department Expansion by adding an additional floor to their existing building, which will allow them to expand the reach of IT services and software development in Houma, Texas.  The project will help SCPDC enhance its ability to train and support governmental staff across the country while also addressing the housing shortage resulting from Hurricane Ida.  The economic impact will promote social and economic equity within the region while bolstering local businesses.  Once completed, the project will expand and diversify the region’s economic base and promote economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 40 jobs.
    • $3,500,000 to the Sowela Technical Community College, Lake Charles/Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, to support the Sowela Technical Community College and the city of Lake Charles with establishing a Flight Training School to provide aspiring pilots with comprehensive training programs leading to a Private Pilot’s License and commercial flight training in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  The programs will help leverage equity, recovery and resilience, and workforce development in the Chennault and Southwest Louisiana Resiliency District.  The economic impact will equip students with the expertise required to pursue careers as professional pilots and fulfill the current demands for pilots whether it be commercial airlines or contract flying such as fish finders, pipeline surveyors, oil industry, or crop dusting.  Once implemented, the project will lay the groundwork for long-term economic vitality and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create/save 170 jobs and leverage $2.2 million in private investment.
    • $2,400,000 to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg/Hidalgo County, Texas, to fund the renovation of the existing University of Texas Rio Grande Valley CESS building establishing an incubation center offering services to the small business community, customizable employer trainings, and research and data in Edinburg, Texas.  In addition, the project will help increase workforce development, manufacturing, technology based economic development, and environmentally- sustaining development in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.  Once completed, the project will create an increase in employment and diversify the local economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 90 jobs and leverage $65 million in private investment.
  • $1,675,000 in one 2019 Disaster Supplemental project, as follows:
    • $1,675,000 to the Searcy County Government, Marshall/Searcy County, Arkansas, to support renovating a vacant facility and converting it into a frozen foods manufacturing facility in Marshall, Arkansas.  The renovations will include measures to make the building code compliant (including structural, ADA, fire safety, and all other applicable codes).  Once completed, the project will help promote job growth and attract private investments to support the region’s efforts to diversify its economy.
  • $1,300,000 in one Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $325,000 as follows:
    • $1,300,000 to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, Santa Fe/Santa Fe County, New Mexico, to fund the purchase and renovation of a building in downtown Santa Fe to be used as the headquarters for North Central New Mexico Economic Development District.  The renovations will include parking lot rehabilitations, building renovations, building-code compliance, and ADA accessibility.  Once completed, the improvements will lead to the creation of jobs, attract private investment, and support business development throughout the region.
  • $1,522,920 in eight Partnership Planning projects, matched by $792,780: to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS).  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the First District Association of Local Governments, Watertown/Codington County, South Dakota, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the First District Association of Local Governments, which comprises the counties of Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody, and Roberts.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the Planning and Development District III, Yankton/Yankton County, South Dakota, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Planning and Development District III, which comprises the counties of Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld, Lyman, Sanborn, Tripp, and Yankton.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the Northeast Council of Governments, Aberdeen/Brown County, South Dakota, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Northeast Council of Governments, which comprises the counties of Beadle, Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Hand, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Spink, and Walworth. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the Central South Dakota Enhancement District, Pierre/Hughes County, South Dakota, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Central South Dakota Enhancement District, which comprises the counties of Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Stanley, and Sully.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $52,920 to the City of Maryville, Missouri, Maryville/Nodaway County, Missouri, to support the city of Maryville with developing and expanding workforce development in the region by providing a much-needed detailed workforce strategy for Maryville, Missouri.  The planning strategy will provide a specialized workforce analysis and study that analyzes the current labor force and surrounding communities.  Once completed, the project will help enhance future economic sustainability, strengthen the regional economy, and bolster economic resiliency throughout the region.
    • $210,00 to the Black Hills Council of Local Governments, Rapid City/Pennington County, South Dakota, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Black Hills Council of Local Governments, which comprises the counties of Bennett, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, and Pennington.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the West Alabama Regional Commission, Northport/Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the West Alabama Regional Commission, which comprises the counties of Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $210,000 to the South-Central Tennessee Development District, Mount Pleasant/Maury County, Tennessee, to supports the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) in the region served by the South-Central Tennessee Development District, which comprises the counties Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.