Biden-Harris Administration Announces Recompete Finalist in Eastern Kentucky to Reduce Barriers to Employment

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 Eastern Kentucky Runway Recompete Plan in Pikeville, Kentucky, was named a Finalist in the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete).

The Eastern Kentucky Runway Recompete Plan, led by Shaping Our Appalachian Region, seeks to reduce barriers to employment, such as transportation, childcare, housing, and skills gaps, as well as address skills mismatches in the healthcare and tech sectors in southeast Kentucky. The coalition proposes to establish a small business accelerator focused on reducing those barriers, connect un/underemployed to workforce training in collaboration with employers, digital skilling, and expand healthcare training facilities.

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.”

“As Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I believe that every Kentuckian – no matter where they live – deserves a fair shot at getting a good job. This can be difficult with so many barriers, like transportation and child care. That’s why organizations like Shaping Our Appalachian Region and this plan are so important,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “Congratulations to SOAR for being named a finalist in the Recompete program, and thank you for all you do to help our people.”

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.