Biden-Harris Administration Awards Planning Grant to Address Prime-Age Employment Gap in Coastal Washington

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 Recompete Washington State Coastal Counties Initiative in Aberdeen, Washington, was awarded a Recompete Strategy Development Grant to address the prime-age employment gap in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

The Recompete Washington State Coastal Counties Initiative, led by Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., will leverage the grant to increase local coordination and planning activities to create and connect workers to good jobs in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities. The Distressed Area Recompete Pilot 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.

 “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 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 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.”

“This funding is great news for the Olympic Peninsula as they move forward with this process,” said Washington Senator Patty Murray. “Bringing the Recompete funding home to the peninsula would be a game changer for our communities and this initial award is a big step in the right direction. This is about making sure every part of Washington state can count on good paying jobs and see real economic opportunity. I want to commend Congressman Kilmer especially for leading the way to make this grant program a reality.”

“These awards will help communities across the nation plan the next era of their economies and build out crucial industries, increasing the number of stable and high-paying jobs. Today’s announcement also means that 22 communities are now eligible to compete for up to $50 million in federal funding to implement their new economic development plans,” said Washington Senator Maria Cantwell. “Washington is an innovation state, but we didn’t become a powerhouse overnight – we built our workforce and grew our collaborative partnerships over decades. Programs like Recompete will help communities across the United States tap into their talent, expertise, and innovation.”

“Growing up on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula, I saw a lot of folks in my community and my region lose their jobs when the timber industry took it on the chin. I’ve spent much of my adult life trying to figure out how to make sure we do a better job of protecting workers and communities so that no one gets left behind in our society and economy. That’s why I ran for public office, and why I drafted the RECOMPETE Act,” said Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06). “Today, as we see the Recompete Pilot Program deliver investments in communities that have faced long-term economic challenges, it’s a significant milestone not just for the region I represent, but for folks who’ve seen similar economic distress in communities across America. The Recompete Pilot Program is a testament to our collective efforts to ensure every American, no matter their zip code, has access to economic opportunity. I want to extend my profound gratitude to President Biden, Secretary Raimondo, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Castillo, for their unwavering leadership and support in bringing this vision to life and taking steps to build an economy where no community is left behind.”

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.