U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $9.6 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements to Support Job Creation in Anderson County, South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $9.6 million grant to Anderson County, South Carolina, to support job creation and private investment in the region.

This grant will provide for water infrastructure improvements to support commercial and industrial businesses in Anderson County. This EDA investment will be matched with $2.4 million in local funds and is expected to create 225 jobs and generate $60 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is jumpstarting America’s middle class comeback by building critical infrastructure and supporting job creation across the nation,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Anderson County will help the region’s commercial and industrial businesses grow economic opportunity and good-paying jobs for local workers.”

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with communities to support locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will provide critical infrastructure improvements to diversify the regional economy and put the Anderson County community to work in many new, good jobs.”

This project was 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.