Biden-Harris Administration Invests Approximately $36 Million in Wyoming to Catalyze Indigenous-led Eco-tourism Economy
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, [email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced it will award approximately $36 million to Wind River Development Fund in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, to catalyze an indigenous-led eco-tourism economy on the Wind River Reservation and in Fremont County.
In December 2023, Wind River Indigenous-based Economy Recompete Plan was named one of 22 Recompete Finalists as part of Phase 1 of the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete). Recompete targets areas where prime-age (25-54) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal of closing this gap through flexible, locally-driven investments.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is a commitment to communities in Wyoming and across the country to provide the resources and support they need to chart a path to prosperity in the modern economy” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This investment in the Tribal communities of Wyoming will help catalyze Indigenous led eco-tourism, agriculture, and health care efforts, creating jobs and developing long-term economic growth.”
As one of six Recompete awardees selected for implementation funding, the Wind River Indigenous-based Economy Recompete Plan will create new opportunities by growing the indigenous-led economy and leveraging the robust tourism industry in nearby National Parks. The coalition will invest in facilities and programming for ecotourism, cultural preservation, workforce development, indigenous agriculture, healthcare expansion, and land sovereignty to jumpstart business investment and good jobs for residents.
The final grant amount will be confirmed in the coming months.
“Through partnership with local communities, the Recompete program will make targeted, community-led investments to reduce unemployment,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The Recompete awardees are bringing together a wide range of partners to develop integrated approaches to support Americans in accessing good jobs.”
The Recompete program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The statute authorized $1 billion for the program. To date, EDA has been appropriated $200 million for the program.
Read more about the Recompete Pilot Program at 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.