May 27 - June 1, 2022
EDA announced three investments from May 27-June 1, 2022, totaling $626,500, which is matched by $356,500 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $360,000 in one American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance project to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to respond to and recover from the devastating impacts to the economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) $266,500 in two Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
- $360,000 in one American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation project, matched by $90,000 in local investment, to help accelerate the recovery of the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation industry and build back the communities that depend on the industry, as follows:
- $360,000, matched by $90,000 in local investment, to the City of Soldotna, Soldotna/Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska, to support the planning and future construction of a riverfront street to redevelop downtown Soldotna in Alaska. The City of Soldotna has experienced significant job loss over the years and the project will allow Soldotna to leverage the region's fishing and tourism industries by providing infrastructure on vacant and underutilized lands for developments of parks, streets, trails, etc. for business revitalization. These improvements will foster new private capital investment, partnerships, and job creation, while bolstering activity for existing businesses and improving the quality of the built environment for residents and visitors. Once completed, the project will assist in the region's recovery and make it more resilient to fluctuations in tourism, which will advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
- $266,500 in two Partnership Planning projects, matched by $266,500 in local investments, 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, as follows:
- $240,000, matched by $240,000 in local investment, to the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, The Dalles/Wasco County, Oregon.
- $26,500, matched by $26,500 in local investment, to Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green/Wood County, Ohio.