U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.1 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Remote Workforce Training Efforts in Utah

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.1 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Utah State University, Logan, Utah, to develop their Remote Online Initiative (ROI), which will provide training to position businesses for economic recovery and prepare workers for success in remote environments. This EDA grant, to be matched with $264,182 in local funds, is expected to create more than 450 jobs, and generate $40,500 in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds back better,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Utah State University will provide training to business leaders across the state in developing effective remote work environments that will help them create and retain jobs.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Angela Belden Martinez, Director of EDA’s Denver Regional Office. “The ROI training program will prepare businesses for economic recovery and better prepare workers for success in a remote environment, creating a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”

“In the last year, remote work has become an increasingly important part of Utah's workforce, and we've proved that it works,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “We're thrilled that Utah State University will be receiving these funds to continue supporting the Remote Online Initiative program, which is a great tool for those who are new to remote work or want to improve their efficiency while working remotely.”

“This funding will support Utah State University in their work to provide training to businesses across our state, which in turn will help them create and retain more jobs for more Utahns,” said Senator Mitt Romney. “I appreciate the work of Secretary Raimondo, who is continuing to administer funding which we authorized as a part of the CARES Act in order to help communities recover from the impacts of this pandemic.”

“Utah is leading the way in economic recovery after COVID-19, and this investment in our remote workforce will help us rebuild even stronger,” said Congressman Blake Moore (UT-01). “I thank the Department of Commerce for prioritizing this important initiative at Utah State University, and I look forward to seeing the positive effects the Remote Online Initiative will have on Utahns across the state.”

This project was made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Mountainland Economic Development District and the Wasatch Front Economic Development District, which EDA funds. The Mountainland Economic Development District and the Wasatch Front Economic Development District bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.