Grant

December 21, 2020 to January 8, 2021

  • EDA announced 32 investments from December 21, 2020 to January 8, 2021, totaling $26,628,480, which is matched by $13,961,960 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $8,344,050 in four Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which includes one project for $2,964,120 that will help create 125 jobs and leverage $20,000,000 in private investment; (2) $10,926,430 in seven Economic Adjustment Assistance projects 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, which includes three projects for $4,662,424 that will help create 225 jobs, save 25 jobs, and leverage $20,250,000 in private investments; (3) $3,500,000 in one Public Works project to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 4,250 jobs and leverage $547,000,000 in private investment; and (4) $3,858,000 in 20 Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
    • $8,344,050 in four Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects, matched by $5,834,763 in local investments, as follows:
      • $5,000,000, matched by $5,000,000 in local investment, to the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, Inc., Tallahassee/Leon County, Florida, to support the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, Inc. with developing and executing a collaborative statewide tourism recovery marketing campaign to respond to the extreme economic injury caused to the Florida tourism industry as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that effected the State of Florida. The recovery campaign will include participation from many regional and local destination marketing organizations representing a wide variety of areas within the state. Once implemented, the marketing campaign will help to ensure the recovery of the tourism industry, which will strengthen the regional economy and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
      • $2,964,120, matched by $741,030 in local investment, to BioSTL, Saint Louis/Saint Louis County, Missouri, to fund the development of the Center for National Pandemic Resiliency in Biosciences, a laboratory for generating and testing pandemic response and resiliency innovations and modeling how such innovation can improve health and economic outcomes across the United States. The Center will build capacity for future pandemic response and recovery while creating new economic opportunity, diversifying the economy, advancing health and economic equity, and building health and economic resiliency in the Saint Louis region and across the nation. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 125 jobs and leverage $20,000,000 in private investment.
      • $345,000, matched by $85,000 in local investment, to Enterprise Florida, Inc., Orlando/Orange County, Florida, to support Enterprise Florida, Inc. with hosting a one-time “Virtual Trade Show” to support Florida businesses’ efforts with enhancing export trade opportunities and allowing Florida regions to attract foreign direct investment within the State of Florida. The “Virtual Trade Show” will showcase Florida businesses to help expand export sales and generate additional sales with key manufacturing and service sector companies. The event will help the region with recovery efforts from the coronavirus pandemic, strengthen the regional economy, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
      • $34,930, matched by $8,733 in local investment, to the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, Monon/White County, Indiana, to support the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission with implementing the Agricultural Resilience and Recovery strategy to help the multi-county Kankakee-Iroquois Region better understand how to prepare for and mitigate future economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic to the region’s critical agricultural economy. Once implemented, the strategy will display how best to align and coordinate industry and firm-specific goals within the broader ag sector and provide key insights into the region’s workforce development needs, which will strengthen the regional economy and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
    • $10,926,430 in seven Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $2,816,722 in local investments, as follows:
      • $3,806,761 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $951,691 in local investment, to the University of South Alabama, Mobile/Mobile County, Alabama, to support the University of South Alabama with installing a new emergency generator system to power the University Hospital in times of a catastrophic power outage or natural disaster in Mobile County, Alabama. The project will assist the region with recovery efforts from Hurricane Michael by providing electrical energy for the entire hospital for an extended period of time, allowing the hospital to continue to provide medical services in the event of long-term power disruptions created by natural disasters or power company interruptions. Once completed, the project will help mitigate the effects of future disastrous events, promote economic resiliency, and strengthen the regional economy.
      • $2,680,000 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $670,000 in local investment, to the Buffalo Erie County Industrial Development Corporation, Erie County, and the Erie County Water Authority, Buffalo/Erie County, New York, to support the Buffalo Erie County Industrial Land Development Corporation with constructing water and sewer systems, to facilitate the development of 160 acres of land at the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna, New York, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project work includes the replacement of 4000 LF of sanitary sewer, installation of 1000 LF of new 18" sewer, and approximately 3,000 feet of 15" sewers. In addition, the rehabilitation of a section of existing 18" private sewer needed under NYS Route 5 and the disposal of existing sewers that would no longer be used. Once completed, the project will help support job retention, create new opportunities and attract private investment to an area that has been impacted by the decline in the coal industry. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 100 jobs and leverage $18,000,000 in private investment.
      • $2,200,000 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $550,000 in local investment, to the Ohio University, the Buckeye Hills Regional Planning Council, and the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Athens/Athens County, Ohio, to support an 18-county partnership led by the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, and the Ohio University with providing technical assistance to communities affected by the decline in the coal industry in Athens County, Ohio. The project will help regional leaders devise strategies to accelerate the economy’s transition to new industries and develop prospectuses to help utilize the region’s Opportunity Zones. Once completed, the project will catalyze a process of strategic recovery and ongoing economic resilience within the critical part of Appalachian Ohio.
      • $1,585,000 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $400,000 in local investment, to the Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg/Crawford County, Kansas, to support Pittsburg State University with addressing the local and regional need for economic diversification in the aftermath of the 2019 floods by supporting polymer, plastic research, and education through the Kansas Polymer Research Center in Crawford County, Kansas, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will expand the technology-based manufacturing operations throughout the region and serve as a catalyst for the establishment of the National Institute for Materials Advancement, which will lead to higher paying job opportunities and strengthening economic resiliency throughout the region.
      • $397,424, matched by $172,898 in local investment, to the U.S. Ignite, Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, to support U.S. Ignite, Inc. with addressing the local and regional need for startup support and workforce development opportunities by providing technical assistance to startups and local businesses in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once completed, this project will help support the creation of jobs, promote growth for startups and encourage the integration of smart city assets into local economic development initiatives in an Opportunity Zone, which will help advance long term economic vitality and sustainability, bolster job creation, attract private investment, and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 75 jobs and leverage $250,000 in private investment.
      • $145,245, matched by $44,183 in local investment, to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage/Anchorage County, Alaska, to support the Alaska Native Heritage Center with developing a 5-Year Statewide Cultural Tourism Plan, an interactive cultural tourism map, and a feasibility study and business plan model. The purpose of the cultural tourism plan is to bring together the public and private sectors to diversify and strengthen the state-wide economy by enhancing Alaska's cultural destination brand and increasing the annual economic contribution from tourism. The Alaska Native Heritage Center's website will display developed Indigenous cultural tourism activities and services on an interactive map inviting guests to engage in Alaska's cultural tourism. The feasibility study and business plan are a tool to assist entrepreneurial development in cultural tourism that will provide sustainable income for Native Alaskans while decreasing the unemployment rate and stabilizing the economy.
      • $112,000 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $28,000 in local investment, to Valley County, Cascade/Valley County, Idaho, to fund the design and engineering of the Abstein Road Bridge Replacement project. The Abstein Road Bridge, located in rural eastern Valley County, Idaho, provides access over the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River, which originates below Murphy Peak east of Stibnite, Idaho. The project will help the County improve necessary infrastructure to address the resiliency of the roadway and bridge as a result of severe flooding and landslides, which will lead to long-term economic growth and an increase in sustainable job opportunities throughout the region.
    • $3,500,000 in one Public Works project, matched by $3,545,475 in local investment, as follows:
      • $3,500,000, matched by $3,545,475 in local investment, to the Carneys Point Township Sewerage Authority, Carneys Point (Township)/Salem County, New Jersey, to support the Carney Point Township Sewerage Authority with installing approximately 5.75 miles of sanitary sewer lines and one sewage pump station to facilitate the construction of fulfillment and logistic centers in Salem County, New Jersey, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will construct two fulfillment and logistic centers by extending a new force main from the existing wastewater treatment plant to the existing Game Creek Pump Station and extending a second force main from the Game Creek Pump Station to the existing Kelly Farm. Once completed, the project will create job opportunities, attract private investment, and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 4,250 jobs and leverage $547,000,000 in private investment.
    • $3,858,000 in 20 Partnership Planning projects, matched by $1,765,000 in local investments, to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process. 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.