U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.75 Million to Expand Agribusiness Sector in Cass County, Indiana

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.8 million grant to Cass County, Indiana, for road infrastructure upgrades at the Cass County Agribusiness Park.

This project will increase business operations and provide continued industrial growth in a region impacted by changes in the energy economy. This EDA investment will be matched with $1.4 million in local funds. It is expected to create or retain more than 200 jobs and generate $68.5 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is about empowering all communities with the resources they need to lift up working families. That’s precisely what this award will do by helping those impacted by shifts in the energy sector to grow and diversify their economies,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in critical road infrastructure will strengthen Cass County Agribusiness Park’s role as an economic driver in the region for decades to come.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Cass 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. “We look forward to helping increase capacity at the Cass County Agribusiness Park and provide a much-needed boost to the regional 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.