U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $644,045 in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Manufacturing Research and Workforce Development at the University of South Alabama

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $644,045 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the University of South Alabama in Mobile, to renovate the Laboratory for Additive Manufacturing, creating a cyber research hub and supporting workforce development efforts. This EDA grant will be matched with $161,011 in local investment.

“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said H. Philip Paradice, Jr., Director of EDA’s Atlanta Regional Office. “This EDA investment will create an additive manufacturing laboratory, conducting cyber manufacturing research while providing training and workforce development.”

“This EDA grant is excellent news for the University of South Alabama and the surrounding Mobile area,” said Senator Richard Shelby. “By renovating the Laboratory for Additive Manufacturing and providing resources for a well-trained workforce, we are investing in both the future of cyber research and those engaged in this important field. I am pleased EDA recognizes the value of USA’s role in cyber manufacturing and its ability to benefit the local economy.”

“The Economic Development Administration’s decision to award the University of South Alabama over $600,000 to renovate the Laboratory for Additive Manufacturing is incredible news,” said Congressman Jerry Carl (AL-01). “This award will enable the public and private sectors to work together to strengthen and grow the regional economy as we recover from the many hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC). EDA funds SARPC to 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.