U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.2 Million for Railway Infrastructure Improvements to Support Commercial Growth in Columbia, Missouri

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.2 million grant to the city of Columbia, Missouri, for railway infrastructure improvements needed to support commercial growth in the region.

This grant will expand and improve the commercial freight rail corridor, increasing commercial activity throughout the region. This EDA investment will be matched with $800,000 in local funds and is expected to create 25 jobs and generate $23 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the infrastructure needed for economic growth in Missouri and across the country,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide the infrastructure to expand and improve commercial freight opportunities, helping connect the local businesses to national and global markets and growing the regional economy.”

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to ensure place-based economic growth,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “This project will expand and improve the rail corridor to allow for heavier, more cost-efficient freight loads, creating jobs and spurring private investment in the region.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission (Mid-MO RPC). EDA funds Mid-MO RPC 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.

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.