U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Support Business and Job Growth in Adams County, Ohio

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Adams County Regional Water District in West Union, Ohio, for water infrastructure upgrades to serve the Winchester Industrial Park.

This project will provide a 350,000-gallon water tank and water line that will provide critical additional capacity needed for industrial businesses to expand, spurring new business growth on 55 acres at the park. This EDA investment will be matched with $500,000 in local funds and is expected to create 150 jobs, retain 84 jobs, and generate $6 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing communities – including those impacted by a decline in the coal economy – with the resources they need to diversify and grow their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in particular will deliver critical water infrastructure that will create jobs and build economic resiliency for Adams County and surrounding communities.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Adams County through this strategic, place-based grant as it seeks to bring new opportunities to the region,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA grant will increase the Adams County Regional Water District’s capacity to support business location and expansion efforts to provide a much-needed boost for a regional economy grappling with the decline of the coal economy.”

“To grow Ohio’s economy, we need to ensure that rural businesses and communities have the infrastructure they need,” said Senator Sherrod Brown. “Investments like these help communities in Ohio create jobs and attract new businesses to the area.”

“I am pleased to see this investment in critical water infrastructure for Adams County and the surrounding region,” said Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2). “This grant will enable businesses to expand in our community, bringing much needed jobs and investment. These water infrastructure upgrades will substantially boost the capacity for development within our region and bolster the local economy.”

This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

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.