U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Business Expansion in Du Quoin, Illinois

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the city of Du Quoin, Illinois, to build a 500,000-gallon elevated water storage tank at the city’s industrial park to accommodate business expansion efforts and attract new businesses. This EDA grant, to be matched with $1 million in local funds, is expected to create 121 jobs, retain 57 jobs and generate $9.2 million in private investment.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing 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 M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Du Quoin will provide a much-needed expansion of fire protection capabilities that will boost business growth at the city’s industrial park.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting community-led economic development strategies designed to boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts,” said Michele Chang, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy. “A new elevated water tank will pave the way for new business opportunities and support the region’s economic diversification and resiliency efforts.”

“Driving robust investment for our downstate communities is a top priority here in Illinois, and I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for ensuring that the City of Du Quoin sees ample support as we build back from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This new EDA grant will jumpstart new infrastructure for Du Quoin’s industrial park, boosting jobs for the community and catalyzing millions in private investment to make the Park – home to advanced manufacturing and renewable energy capacities – even more attractive for future development. We look forward to continued partnership at the federal and local levels as we work to bring the maximum investment to communities statewide that will not only create jobs and bolster our shared assets, but help fuel our continued economic recovery.”

“I’m pleased to see the Biden Administration make such a historic investment in Du Quoin to jumpstart the local economy as we turn the corner on this pandemic,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “With this CARES Act funding, the federal government is supporting Du Quoin and its mission to attract businesses and create good-paying jobs.”

“This investment will strengthen Southern Illinois’s efforts to attract and grow local small businesses by making critical infrastructure improvements in Du Quoin’s industrial park,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “I will continue working to help secure federal funding for projects that create jobs, help local economies recover from the pandemic and improve the lives of Illinoisans.”

“Last year, I was proud to vote for the CARES Act, and am pleased to announce that Du Quoin has received this EDA funding today,” said Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12). “Not only will this grant help create and sustain jobs for 178 Southern Illinoisans, but it will also support the needs of local businesses as they grow. As COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, getting people back to work and our economy back on track must be our top priorities.”

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 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.