U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost Manufacturing Workforce Development Efforts in California’s San Joaquin Valley

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to Stanislaus Business Alliance, Modesto, California, to support workforce development in the manufacturing industry. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will help establish VOLT on the Go, a mobile workforce development program designed to provide manufacturing job training to rural areas of California’s San Joaquin Valley. This EDA grant will be matched with $326,120 in local funds and is expected to create or retain 100 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

“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 a better America for the future,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will boost workforce development efforts across the San Joaquin Valley, providing residents with the skills they need to compete for good-paying, advanced manufacturing 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 Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This program will be an important asset in growing the region’s capacity to provide the critical training programs that businesses and workers in the region need to compete.”

“California is committed to expanding opportunity in every corner of our state. This ARP grant will help launch a mobile workforce program to prepare San Joaquin Valley workers for good jobs in the manufacturing industry,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We thank the Biden Administration for its continued support in building long-term resilience and economic growth in all our communities.”

“I was proud to support the American Rescue Plan because it provides crucial funding to support economic development in communities that have too often been left behind,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “This is a significant investment in job training that will put more Californians on the path to good-paying careers and cultivate the skilled workforce needed to keep the San Joaquin Valley’s economy competitive.”

“I’m proud to bring home this investment in our workers which will help create 100 new jobs right here in the Central Valley,” said Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10). “We already have the brightest and most talented workers in the country. Now it’s time to make sure they have a great paying job close to home.” 

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.

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.