Success Stories
EDA investments catalyze strategic, regionally-focused plans to build strong economic ecosystems that will support entrepreneurship and business growth, enhance and grow their existing economic assets, and create well-paying jobs in growing sectors. By investing in bottom-up regional economic development EDA helped communities devise new, well-thought-out, sustainable strategies based on their unique assets.
EDA’s economic footprint is wide and its tool box is extensive—including technical assistance, post-disaster recovery assistance, trade adjustment support, strategic planning and research and evaluation capacity, thereby allowing the agency to offer the most effective investment to help communities succeed in the global economy.
We are proud of our grantees’ accomplishments and encourage you to submit your success stories:
Read some Success Stories from our Annual Reports.
Archives: Disaster | Economic Development Districts | Infrastructure | Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Manufacturing | Small Business Development/RLF | Workforce Development
Collaborative Efforts in California Turn Wildfire Devastation Into Economic GrowthLike the Phoenix rising from the burning flames to restore and make anew, so have local efforts in California help turn destruction into prosperity. March 2019 |
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Success Story: EDA’s Investment in Choctaw Nation Supports Development of Drone Testing Program, Attracting New Business and Private Investment to the AreaThe Choctaw Nation is a Native American territory and Indian Tribe represented in 11 counties in Oklahoma. Between 2014 and 2016, the Choctaw Nation and surrounding region was affected by three federally-declared natural disasters. February 2019 |
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Highlight: How Non-Profit ICAST is Teaching Green Construction Skills to At-Risk Youth, Training for Jobs of the FutureIn December 2017, EDA provided funding for the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST), a nonprofit that focuses on providing a higher quality of living for low-to-moderate income communities, to launch a green construction training and job creation program for disadvantaged youth. February 2019 |
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Rhode Island Commerce Corporations’ EDA Revolving Loan Fund Helps Premier Biodiesel Manufacturer ExpandEDA’s Revolving Loan (RLF) Program provides funding to state and local governments, nonprofits and political subdivisions to provide access to capital to U.S. small businesses that cannot obtain traditional bank financing. December 2018 |
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North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission’s EDA Revolving Loan Fund Gives Pennsylvania Manufacturer a BoostEDA’s Revolving Loan (RLF) Program provides funding to state and local governments, nonprofits and political subdivisions to provide access to capital to U.S. small businesses that cannot obtain traditional bank financing. These loans enable small businesses to expand, lead to new employment opportunities and help retain jobs. December 2018 |
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EDA Investment Relocates Wastewater Treatment Plant, Protects Iowa City Water Supply from Future FloodsIn June of 2008, surges in the Iowa River leading into Iowa City prevented access to the downtown area causing significant impact to the local business community. The river remained above flood stage for 32 consecutive days halting commerce and transportation in the region for weeks. The flood damage resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private damage in Iowa City. November 2018 |
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EDA Invests in the IEDC Volunteer Assistance Program to Help Communities Impacted by Hurricane HarveyImmediately following the impact of Hurricane Harvey on August 25, 2017, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has stated was “the most significant tropical cyclone rainfall event” in U.S. history with up to 48-60 inches of rain and estimated damage of $125 billion, EDA’s Austin Regional Office invested $175,000 in the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Volunteer Assistance Program to help impacted communities. October 2018 |
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Examples of How the TAAF Program Is Helping U.S. Manufacturing Firms Compete Against Increasing ImportsEDA supports a national network of 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACSs) to help strengthen the competitiveness of American companies that have lost domestic sales and employment because of increased imports of similar goods and services. September 2018 |
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One Year After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Long-Term Recovery Planning Activity Boosts Puerto Rico’s Economic DevelopmentOne year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, much is still being done to rebuild and revitalize the communities that suffered from the storms. September 2018 |
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EDA Investments in Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Programs for Regions Impacted by Hurricane HarveyHurricane Harvey hit southeast Texas as a Category 4 storm on August 25, 2017. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated that Harvey was “the most significant tropical cyclone rainfall event” in U.S. history with up to 48-60 inches of rain over five days. September 2018 |
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