U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.8 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Business Expansion Efforts in Salina, Kansas

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of Salina, Kansas, for drainage and road improvements to allow for business expansion. This EDA grant, to be matched with $939,200 in local investment, is expected to create 225 jobs, retain 1,200 jobs, and generate $600 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to unleashing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds back stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Salina will provide infrastructure improvements needed to support the expansion of a major food manufacturer – creating a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The utility, storm drainage, and street improvements to be made near Centennial Ditch with the assistance of this EDA investment will improve the area’s flood resiliency while creating new job opportunities.”

“Through the landmark, 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan, my administration has made strategic investments in long-overdue infrastructure improvements across the state that will make our roads safer, create jobs, and spur long-term economic growth,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I appreciate our partners at the U.S. Department of Commerce for supporting those efforts, and ensuring that Salina has the infrastructure needed to supporting a thriving economy, for generations to come.”

“Strong local economies are key to recovering from this pandemic, and federal investments like this one help accomplish important regional economic development goals,” said Senator Jerry Moran. “This grant will support local business expansion in Salina, keeping jobs in the area and creating new opportunities for the local workforce. I will continue to work with our federal agencies to make certain that Kansas is a priority when these resources are distributed.”

“Supporting business development throughout Kansas is vital to the success of our great state, and I applaud this significant investment in the city of Salina,” said Senator Roger Marshall. “Each community in Kansas faces different hurdles to economic growth and development, and the pandemic has only added to those challenges. Through CARES Act funding, the Economic Development Administration is able to help Salina make vital infrastructure improvements, allowing for current and future business expansion, job creation, and a stronger local and regional economy.”

This project was made possible by the North Central Regional Planning Commission’s regional planning efforts, which EDA funds 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 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

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 makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.