U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $5 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Forest Products Industry on Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5 million grant to Menominee Tribal Enterprises, Neopit, Wisconsin, to construct a new building and replace equipment at the Tribe’s sawmill.

This grant will allow the Tribe to upgrade its current timber and sawmill processing capacity and create jobs for the community. The EDA investment is expected to create 50 jobs, retain 10 jobs and generate $2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to supporting Tribal communities in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in the Menominee Indian Reservation will create jobs while strengthening the region’s forest products supply chains and building global competitiveness.”

“Tribal communities were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will grow the economy on the Tribal reservation and create new job opportunities for Tribal members.”

“The folks at Menominee Tribal Enterprises are not only at the forefront of sustainable forestry in Wisconsin, but they’re a significant economic driver for the Menominee Tribe and the entire region,” said Governor Tony Evers. “I’m proud of our work to partner with Tribal Nations in Wisconsin, especially throughout the pandemic, and this $5 million grant will further our efforts to ensure a strong economic recovery for the Menominee Tribe and its citizens.”

“I voted for the bipartisan CARES Act that was signed into law because it delivers support for our Made in Wisconsin economy,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This federal investment in the Menominee Nation will boost Wisconsin’s forest product industry, create and support good paying jobs, and help sustainably manage our forests. I am proud to be a partner in supporting job creation in Wisconsin’s Tribal communities.”

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.