Biden-Harris Administration Announces Recompete Finalist in Imperial County, California, to Reskill Workers for Success in the Lithium Industry
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, Department of Commerce selects communities primed to reduce unemployment and establish long-term economic growth
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, [email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced that the Lithium Valley Recompete Plan in Imperial County, California, was named a Finalist in the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete).
The Lithium Valley Recompete Plan, led by the San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center, will reskill workers and equip businesses to take advantage of the growing lithium industry in Imperial County. The initiative will support a vocational campus, mobile career centers, a small business incubator, STEM education facility, and supportive services to transition the regional workforce into a technology and innovation-based economy centered on the lithium industry.
The Recompete program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal to close this gap through flexible, locally driven investments. Earning the title of Recompete Finalist is an endorsement of the community’s strategy to create and connect workers to good jobs in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country. Recompete Finalists are now eligible to apply for the final phase of the Recompete Program, which will award an average of $20 to $50 million in implementation funding.
“Recompete helps fulfill President Biden’s promise that no community in America will be left behind as we continue to grow our nation’s economy and invest in American workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These Recompete Finalists and grant recipients have presented a wide range of inspiring solutions to create jobs, develop long-term economic growth, and realize the full potential in communities that for too long have been overlooked or counted out.”
“As President Biden has said many times: we all just want a fair shot. Recompete helps make it possible for more Americans in more communities to find a good-paying job that puts them and their families on the path toward success. By equitably investing in new job creation opportunities across America, we can help fulfil our promise that no American, and no community, is ever left behind,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.
“These outstanding Recompete Finalists and strategy development grant recipients exemplify the focused employment and job creation strategies required to address the unique, long-standing needs of communities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We look forward to supporting these communities as they work to reduce the employment gap and establish models for long-term economic growth we can apply across America.”
“Being one of 22 finalists out of 565 applications nationwide is a testament to the regional collaborative approach and hard work of everyone involved, and we are very motivated and committed to carrying this across the finish line,” said Representative Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “I look forward to continuing to work with our Lithium Valley partners in developing transformative initiatives that will make the biggest difference for the community.”
The 22 Recompete Finalists were selected from more than 500 applications from lead applicants representing nonprofits, local government, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and tribal government and organizations. Recompete Finalists span regions across 20 states and territories.
For a full list of Recompete Finalists, visit eda.gov/recompete.
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.