U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.8 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements to Support Industrial Growth in Wayne County, Indiana

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.8 million grant to Cambridge City, Indiana, for water infrastructure improvements to support industrial growth in the region.

This grant will provide services and equipment to increase water capacity at the Gateway Industrial Park, supporting business expansion and job creation. This EDA investment will be matched with $2.8 million in local funds and is expected to create 100 jobs, retain 77 jobs, and generate $10 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is ensuring that all communities have the resources and opportunities they need to compete and thrive in today’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will enable Cambridge City and all of Wayne County to promote local business and job growth, make the regional economy more resilient.”

“The Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with local communities to support place-based economic growth,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs Cristina Killingsworth. “This project will support business growth in Southeastern Indiana and enable the region to meet the growing domestic and global demands for goods produced in Wayne County.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (SIRPC). EDA funds SIRPC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

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.