U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.9 Million to Improve the Riverfront in Bismarck, North Dakota

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.9 million grant to the Northern Plains Heritage Foundation in Bismarck, North Dakota, for infrastructure improvements to support Bismark’s Riverfront Master Plan.

This grant will make infrastructure improvements needed to develop Bismark Riverfront Park and Festival Grounds to attract tourism and diversify the region’s economy in a region affected by the declining use of coal. This EDA investment will be matched with $1.1 million in local funds and is expected to create 211 jobs and generate $80 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, provides communities, including those impacted by a decline in coal jobs, with the opportunities and resources they need to thrive in today’s economy, while readying them for success in the future,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will support economic growth in Bismark by providing the infrastructure to diversify the region’s economy and build regional resilience for decades to come.”

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic development,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “This project will support Bismark in developing the Riverfront Park and Festival Grounds to grow tourism, create jobs, and spur private investment.”

“North Dakota’s capital city is a beautiful city, and the Missouri River is a spectacular recreational resource for our state,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. “These funds will improve the infrastructure so more people can enjoy it.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council (Lewis & Clark RDC). EDA funds Lewis & Clark RDC 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.