May 5 - 12, 2022

EDA announced 22 investments from May 5-12, 2022, totaling $38,164,458, which is matched by $25,659,287 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $1,427,994 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic; (2) 23,874,472 in 12 American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance projects 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, which includes eight projects for $19,302,972 that will help create 2,622 jobs, save 858 jobs, and leverage $447,300,000 in private investments; (3) $9,152,712 in two 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 that will help create 124 jobs, save 192 jobs, and leverage $8,000,000 in private investments; (4) $3,009,280 in two Public Works projects to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 279 jobs, save 30 jobs, and leverage $12,000,000 in private investments; and (5) $700,000 in four Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.

• $1,427,994 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Projects, matched by $193,006 in local investments, as follows:
  • $1,027,994, matched by $93,006 in local investment, to the Gulf Coast Economic Development District, Inc., Houston/Harris County, Texas, to capitalize a $1,027,995 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to lend to borrowers in the following geographic region: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton Counties in Texas. The project also provides $93,005 to defray the cost of administering the RLF. Once implemented, the project will alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, provide permanent resources to support economic resiliency, and further the long-term economic adjustment objectives of the region served by this EDA investment.
  • $400,000, matched by $100,000 in local investment, to the City of Maricopa/Pinal County, and the University of Arizona, Maricopa/Pinal County, Arizona, to support the City of Maricopa, Pinal County, and the University of Arizona with conducting a feasibility study, to evaluate the highest and best regional use for the 2,100-acre Arizona Board of Regents asset. The study will serve as the decision-making tool to help the community establish a vision for the future, determine the viability of creating thousands of jobs in a proven Tech Park model with the uniqueness of the Arizona Experiment Station as the anchor, and research what training and educational opportunities are needed for the region to thrive. The plans and studies developed through this project will position the state and its regional planning commissions to have the best possible data and tools to support their efforts with regional recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Once completed, the plan will lead to sustainable economic growth to help strengthen and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
• $23,874,472 in 12 American Rescue Plan projects, matched by $14,620,561 in local investments, as follows:
  • Seven Economic Adjustment Assistance Projects for $12,789,248 to help communities nationwide plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through infrastructure, technical assistance, planning, and revolving loan programs designed to meet their local needs.
    • $3,000,000, matched by $750,000 in local investment, to the South Eastern Economic Development Corporation, Taunton/Bristol County, Massachusetts, to capitalize a $3,750,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to lend to borrowers in the following geographic region: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts. The EDA investment will alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, provide permanent resources to support economic resiliency, and further the long-term economic adjustment objectives of the region. Once implemented, the RLF will provide access to capital to help small businesses and entrepreneurs recover from the coronavirus pandemic, which will promote job creation and retention, attract private investment, and bolster economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 100 jobs, save 150 jobs, and leverage $7,500,000 in private investment.
    • $2,400,000, matched by $720,000 in local investment, to the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and the City of Amarillo, Amarillo/Potter County (Project: Amarillo/Randall County), Texas, to support the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation with making roadway, water, and sewer infrastructure improvements to support business expansion at the South Georgia Business Park in Texas. Increasing capacity of the roadway and constructing and installing a potable water line and sewer line will allow the Park's anchor tenant to open its Amarillo dairy product manufacturing facility on a 55-acre tract on the south side of the property. Once completed, the project will promote new business creations, which will generate jobs, attract private investment, and help strengthen and diversify the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 205 jobs and leverage $88,000,000 in private investment.
    • $2,000,000, matched by $5,408,940 in local investment, to the North Arkansas College, Harrison/Boone County, Arkansas, to support the construction of the Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Innovation, to expand the school’s robotics and manufacturing workforce training programs. The project will assist the College with resolving the region’s ability to meet the workforce demand due to a shortage of qualified workers in the area by providing a direct pipeline of qualified workers for the manufacturing base. In addition, the project will allow the College to move its trade skills courses into a facility on its main campus to encourage student enrollment. This will allow the College to enhance its offering of existing courses and offer new courses to pave the way for job creation and private investment growth, which will enhance the region's economic resiliency against future economic downturns and further economic diversification throughout the region.
    • $1,900,000, matched by $570,667 in local investment, to the City of Cabot, Cabot/Lonoke County, Arkansas, to support the construction of water, sewer, and road infrastructure to support development of the Unity Health Hospital in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The new facility will help fill a critical health care need in the area by leading to good-paying jobs for residents across the state, which will help address the region's health care workforce strategy and contribute to the industry’s market growth and resiliency. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 750 jobs and leverage $149,800,000 in private investment.
    • $1,500,000, matched by $3,025,000 in local investment, to the City of McAllen, McAllen/Hidalgo County, Texas, to support critical infrastructure improvements to support the new McAllen Business-Industrial Park in Hidalgo County, Texas. The project includes improving water, wastewater, drainage system pipelines and road construction to assist in addressing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the area. Once completed, the project will aid in the development of manufacturing and workforce development for the region, which will support economic conditions that will lead to the creation of more higher skill employment opportunities and higher paying jobs to strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 665 jobs, save 185 jobs, and leverage $85,000,000 in private investment.
    • $1,489,248, matched by $638,295 in local investment, to the Indiana Institute of Technology, Inc., Fort Wayne/Allen County, Indiana, to support the purchase of technical equipment needed to train students in 11 engineering- and manufacturing-related certification programs as they prepare to sit for and pass certification exams. The project will allow the university to expand, enhance and add industry-recognized certificate training programs that are tailored to the job needs of employers in Northeast Indiana, including positions such as battery management engineers, drone pilots, and printed circuit board design engineers. Once completed, the project will help the region recover from the coronavirus pandemic, by promoting job creation and retention, which will bolster economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 700 jobs and save 100 jobs.
    • $500,000, matched by $125,000 in local investment, to the Acadiana Planning Commission, Inc., Lafayette/Lafayette County, Louisiana, to support the creation of a strategic plan to develop a biopharmaceutical manufacturing cluster in Lafayette, Louisiana. The plan will help leverage existing and planned facilities and resources to increase bio-pharma productivity in the Acadiana region through three mechanisms: positioning shared tailored facilities, infrastructure, and suppliers; developing programs for matching workers to industry through deep labor markets; and promoting learning through dense, knowledge-rich environments that facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation. Once completed, the project will provide a vertically integrated ecosystem centered on the bio-pharma value chain, which will advance economic resiliency, attract private investment, and further economic diversification throughout the region.
  • Two Coal Communities Commitment Projects for $4,051,792 to support coal-reliant communities’ expansion into new industry sectors and recovery from the pandemic.
    • $2,657,835, matched by $664,459 in local investment, to Trumbull County, Howland Township, and the City of Warrant, Warren/Trumbull County, Ohio, to support road and sewer infrastructure improvements in the 1,000-acre Golden Triangle Industrial Area, to help attract and retain manufacturing businesses in Ohio. The project will help the region recover from job losses and disinvestment due to the closure of a coal plant and the COVID-19 pandemic. The infrastructure upgrades such as roads, sidewalks, and rail are expected to assist the region with building a more resilient manufacturing industry to further diversify the regional economy and advance economic resiliency to an area that has been impacted by the decline in the coal industry. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 116 jobs, save 118 jobs, and leverage $47,000,000 in private investment.
    • $1,393,957, matched by $630,000 in local investment, to the Athens Utility Board, Athens/McMinn County, Tennessee, to investment support construction of wastewater treatment improvements at the Sterling Road Pump Station, to expand existing operations in Athens, Tennessee. The project will help reduce overflows within the entire collection system and provide reserve capacity at the wastewater treatment plant that experiences flow beyond its design capacity during inflow and infiltration (I&I) events. This reserve capacity benefits the expansion of existing industrial users and future ones. Once completed, the project will help the region address the significant and sudden loss of jobs caused by the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing job creation and retention in an area that has been impacted by the decline in the coal industry. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 70 jobs, save 300 jobs, and leverage $70,000,000 in private investment.
  • Two Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Projects for $2,071,500 to help accelerate the recovery of the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation industry and build back the communities that depend on the industry.
    • $1,400,000, matched by $1,888,200 in local investment, to the City of Farmers Branch, Farmers Branch/Dallas County, Texas, to support construction of a new events center to increase tourism in Dallas County, Texas. The project will support construction of the events center at the Farmers Branch Historical Park, creating long-term opportunities for local businesses in the hospitality and events-related services. During the coronavirus pandemic, the city suffered job losses in tourism-focused industries and related services, including in the park itself. Once completed, the project will help encourage new business opportunities to develop in the tourism sector, which will help increase employment opportunities, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency in the area.
    • $671,500, matched by $200,000 in local investment, to Mariposa County, Mariposa/Mariposa County, California, to support development of the Mariposa Creek Trailhead and Destination Park, to support the long-term recovery of tourism in the county through expansion of recreational opportunities designed to make the county a year-round destination for visitors. The project will help businesses that rely on tourism in the area become more resilient to seasonal economic downturns and systemic shocks such as the coronavirus pandemic, which will help increase employment opportunities, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
  • One Indigenous Communities Project for $4,961,932 to support the needs of Tribal Governments and Indigenous communities.
    • $4,961,932, with no local match, to the Yurok Tribe/Indian Corporation, Klamath/Del Norte County, California, to support the establishment of an aerial imaging enterprise, Condor Aviation. The Tribe will facilitate the acquisition of a fixed-wing single engine aircraft, LiDAR bathymetric laser scanner sensor, and related components for Condor Aviation. The equipment will advance the Tribe’s efforts to collect important topographic and imagery data needed for the effective management of the Tribe’s natural resources. The enterprise will also be available to service the needs of other government agencies in Northern California. Once completed, the project will provide new employment opportunities with improved wages, save jobs, and boost the socioeconomic factors on the Reservation.
• $9,152,712 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $7,561,654 in local investments, as follows:
  • $7,031,300 in 2019 Disaster Supplemental funding, matched by $7,031,300 in local investment, to the Port of Port Townsend, Port Townsend/Jefferson County, Washington, to support the Port of Port Townsend with completely removing and replacing the South and North Breakwaters that protect the entrance to the Point Hudson Marina in Jefferson County, Washington. A series of severe winter storms with high winds and waves, flooding, landslides, mudslides, and a tornado caused structural damage to the current infrastructure that protects the Point Hudson Marina. The infrastructure upgrades in this project will help enhance the future resilience of the region to the threats of climate change, namely increasing frequency and intensity of storms coupled with rising sea levels; protect the aquatic habitats, beaches and eelgrass beds that are part of Puget Sound, one of largest estuaries in the US and an ecological treasure; and preserve the historic characteristics of the structures that protect Point Hudson located within a National Historic Landmark District and the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, as well as a site of cultural importance for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, which 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 24 jobs, save 150 jobs, and leverage $6,000,000 in private investment.
  • $2,121,412, matched by $530,354 in local investment, to the City of Akron and the Bounce Innovation Hub, Akron/Summit County, Ohio, to support the expansion and renovation of over 20,000 square feet of unused space to further the Bounce Innovation Hub’s mission and the Elevate Greater Akron strategic objectives, to serve more businesses and entrepreneurs in Akron, Ohio. The new business incubator facility will support more than 60 start-up businesses and entrepreneurs through the addition of new technologies, such as 3D printing, as well as conference rooms and workspaces. Once completed, the project will help generate opportunities for high-wage jobs in the area, which will create a more diverse and resilient regional economy. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 100 jobs, save 42 jobs, and leverage $2,000,000 in private investment.
• $3,009,280 in two Public Works projects, matched by $2,584,066 in local investments, as follows:
  • $1,600,000, matched by $2,231,746 in local investment, to the Town of Goldsby, Goldsby/McClain County, Oklahoma, to support the construction of a wastewater infrastructure system to help support industry and business development in McClain County, Oklahoma. The project includes building a sanitary wastewater collection system that will enable economic development of the I-35 corridor in the town for business, industry, and medical care facilities. Once completed, the project will generate an environment that can serve as a catalyst for unprecedented regional economic growth, which will serve two opportunity zones and attract a significant number of businesses to the area. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 179 jobs and leverage $7,000,000 in private investment.
  • $1,409,280, matched by $352,320 in local investment, to Central Michigan University and the Central Michigan University Research Corporation, Mount Pleasant/Isabella County, Michigan, to support Central Michigan University and Central Michigan University Research Corporation with renovating and updating 8,111 square feet of incubator/accelerator office space to better serve small businesses in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. To meet the local entrepreneurial operational and safety needs and help start-up businesses get their teams back to a safe workplace and get back to the level of productivity that they had before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the project will create a work environment with separate offices in a wide-open space. The project will allow businesses to separate workstations and provide the distance needed during the time of COVID-19 and beyond. Once completed, the project will help save jobs, promote resiliency, and strengthen economic development throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 100 jobs, save 30 jobs, and leverage $5,000,000 in private investment.
• $700,000 in four Partnership Planning projects, matched by $700,000 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.