U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million to Expand Workforce Training Opportunities in Pryor, Oklahoma

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, Pryor, Oklahoma, to expand workforce training programs.

This grant will support the construction of new classroom and laboratory space and the procurement of related equipment at the MidAmerica Center of Excellence. The Center will provide training in manufacturing and emerging electric vehicles and battery production technology. This EDA investment will be matched with $750,000 in local funds and is expected to create 210 jobs and generate $6.5 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 will support Pryor’s workforce training and development in critical technologies, getting workers the skills they need for good jobs and spurring private investment.”

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This investment in Pryor will provide new opportunities for workforce training, providing the skills needed to secure good jobs in an essential technology and boost the regional economy.”

This project is 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.