U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.1 Million to Support Workforce Development and Job Creation in Storm-Impacted Communities in North Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $2.1 million in grants to support workforce development and job creation in North Carolina communities impacted by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021.

The EDA investments announced today are:

• Trustees of Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine will receive a $1.3 million EDA grant for building renovations to support workforce development in the college’s culinary program. The project will be matched with $326,396 in local funds.
• Watauga County will receive an $817,558 EDA grant for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades to support a new livestock facility. The project, to be matched with $250,000 in local funds, is expected to create 15 jobs and generate $484,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to providing communities in North Carolina and across the country with the resources they need to grow their local economies following storms and other natural disasters,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will create jobs, get workers the skills they need, and build economic resiliency in these communities for decades to come.”

“EDA plays an important role in supporting locally-driven disaster recovery and resiliency efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “These investments will support workforce development and job creation, preparing residents for quality, in-demand jobs and promoting economic resiliency in the region.”

“We are grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued investment in our state’s infrastructure,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This funding will help North Carolina communities rebuild from the destruction of Tropical Storm Fred and strengthen our workforce, one of our most valuable assets for job recruitment and retention.”

The Watauga County project is supported through the planning efforts of the High Country Council of Governments (HCCOG). EDA funds HCCOG to bring together public and private sector leadership to develop a Comprehensive Economic Develop Strategy to serve the region's growth and development.

These projects are funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.