Biden-Harris Administration Announces Recompete Finalist in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, to Support Workforce Development in Rural Communities

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 Santa Cruz River/Sonoran Corridor (I-19) Recompete Plan in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, was named a Finalist in the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete).

The Santa Cruz River/Sonoran Corridor (I-19) Recompete Plan, led by Santa Cruz County, will support rural communities overcoming decades of disinvestment while addressing new vulnerabilities created by climate change. The Finalist will provide a continuum of training and services for job placement and creation, as well as strategies to diversify and strengthen the business ecosystem and the development of sustainable infrastructure.

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.

In addition to being named a Recompete Finalist, EDA announced today that Santa Cruz River/Sonoran Corridor (I-19) Recompete Plan was also awarded a Recompete Strategy Development Grant to help communities significantly increase local coordination and planning activities.

“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.”

“I applaud the remarkable collaborative efforts of Santa Cruz County, Pima County, and the City of Tucson in advancing the Santa Cruz River/Sonoran Corridor (I-19) Plan to the finalist stage in the Recompete Pilot Program,” said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. “This accomplishment highlights Arizona's commitment to growing our economy and ensuring every community can thrive. I look forward to continued collaboration with local partners so we can build on our success and secure the $50 million Phase 2 implementation grant to further drive innovation and create jobs in our state. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone involved; this recognition underscores our shared dedication and heralds a brighter future for our state.”

“As a lead negotiator of the CHIPS and Science Act, making sure communities like those in the Santa Cruz River Corridor are well-positioned to benefit from industries of the future was a top priority,” said Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. “The corridor’s selection as a finalist for the RECOMPETE program is an important first step to bring jobs and economic development to Pima and Santa Cruz counties. I’ll continue working with community stakeholders to secure southern Arizona’s economic future.”

“I’m encouraged by the selection of Santa Cruz County to receive this federal funding to address decades of disinvestment and vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change,” said Representative Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07). “Communities deserve the opportunity to provide public input in any project and this grant will provide funding for local coordination and much-needed layers of transparency. I’ll continue to support projects that will provide education and training for our workforce, create economic mobility, and strengthen our sustainable infrastructure in southern Arizona.”

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.