U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5.1 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Construct a Warehouse and Hangar Facility to Support Job Creation in Mobile, Alabama

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5.1 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Mobile Airport Authority, Mobile, Alabama, to construct a multi-use cargo warehouse and hangar facility at the Mobile Aeroplex, promoting business expansion and job creation. This EDA grant, to be matched with $747,275 in local funds, is expected to create 50 jobs and generate $1.5 million in private investment.

“President Biden remains committed to providing American communities with the resources needed to not only recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic but to build back better,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Mobile Airport Authority will aid in its ability to attract and retain new businesses to the Aeroplex location and will help to diversify the regional economy.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will support construction of cold storage warehouse space, attracting new tenants and companies to the transportation and logistics center and strengthening the regional economy.”

“As we continue to recover from the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic, I am pleased that EDA remains supportive of important infrastructure investments in the state of Alabama – particularly, those designed to stimulate the regional economy and create jobs,” said Senator Richard Shelby. “This funding for new facilities will help attract companies to the Mobile Aeroplex and increase the Mobile Airport Authority’s capacity for long-term growth. This is excellent news for the future of aviation business in the state.”

“I’m grateful to the Economic Development Administration for recognizing the importance of investing in the continued growth and expansion of the Mobile Airport Authority,” said Congressman Jerry Carl (AL-01). “This significant grant will continue boosting job growth and economic development in south Alabama for many years.”

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), 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) 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.