June 14 - 18, 2021

EDA announced 11 investments from June 14-18, 2021, totaling $22,565,082, which is matched by $11,732,814 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $15,757,342 in six Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects to help alleviate sudden and severe economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which includes two projects for $5,750,000 that will help create 153 jobs, save 29 jobs, and leverage $82,600,000 in private investments; (2) $1,069,261 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance projects to help communities design and implement strategies to adjust or bring about change to their economy in response to structural damage to their underlying economic base; (3) $4,688,479 in two Public Works projects to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 1,084 jobs and leverage $15,500,000 in private investments; and (4) $1,050,000 in one Partnership Planning project to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process in 15 Area Development Districts in Kentucky.

• $15,757,342 in six Economic Adjustment Assistance-COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Projects, matched by $3,341,335 in local investments, as follows:
  • $6,769,022, matched by $1,692,255 in local investment, to Dorchester County, Saint George/Dorchester County, South Carolina, to fund construction of roadway improvements to assist the Ridgeville Industrial Campus with increased traffic volume capacity by providing a direct connection to Interstate 26 in Dorchester County, South Carolina, a designated Opportunity Zone. The widening of Highway 27 will allow the County to have a more desirable product for industries looking to locate in the area by providing a more accessible entry to the Industrial Park from Interstate 26, and improving connectivity with the Camp Hall Commerce Park, the home of a major car manufacturing plant. Once completed, the project will help the region recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
  • $3,000,000, matched by $777,000 in local investment, to the City of Port Arthur, Port Arthur/Jefferson County, Texas, to fund the design and construction of a data cabling and fiber optic infrastructure, new electrical service infrastructure and appurtenances in the City of Port Arthur, Texas, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will provide critical communication infrastructure that will have an economic impact to the City’s lagging downtown business district and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, which will lead to strong growth for local industry partners. Once completed, the project will help the region with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, create and retain jobs, attract private investment, and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 41 jobs, save 29 jobs, and leverage $76,400,000 in private investment.
  • $2,750,000, matched by $687,500 in local investment, to the McNeese State University Foundation/McNeese State University, Lake Charles/Calcasieu County, Louisiana, to support the McNeese State University Foundation and McNeese State University with creating a Center of Excellence to support the local and national Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry in Calcasieu County, Louisiana. The Center will become the hub of resiliency for the LNG industry by becoming the clearing house for best practices to prepare for and respond to economic downturns experienced by COVID-19 and other natural disasters like the most recent Hurricanes of Laura and Delta. Once completed, the project will create higher paying jobs, attract private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 112 jobs and leverage $6,200,000 in local investment.
  • $2,500,000, with no local match, to Wiley College, Marshall/Harrison County, Tennessee, to support Wiley College with developing the Center of Excellence in Digital Education and Rural Workforce Development in the City of Marshall, Texas, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will support economic and workforce development needs for the East Texas Region and provide technical assistance and soft-skills training for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners and those who seek to develop start-up companies. In addition, the project will help bridge the digital divide between aspiring and experienced business owners and will support economic growth that has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once completed, the project will support entrepreneurism, bolster job creation, and strengthen the regional economy.
  • $418,320, matched by $104,580 in local investment, to the Michigan Strategic Fund, Lansing/Ingham County, Michigan, to support the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Strategic Fund in developing a statewide travel and tourism industry strategy that coordinates the vision and activities that will contribute to the recovery of Michigan's tourism economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan will include a data-driven analysis of economic activity related to Michigan's tourism industry and recommend effective responses to post-pandemic shifts in tourism patterns. Once implemented, the plan will be a resource for the state of Michigan as it develops new marketing plans to motive travelers to visit, which will help strengthen the regional economy and advance economic resiliency throughout the region.
  • $320,000, matched by $80,000 in local investment, to the ECI Regional Planning District, Inc., Muncie/Delaware County, Indiana, to support the East Central Indiana Regional Planning District (ECI) launch its Recovery and Resiliency Project. The local economy was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in waves of layoffs and dislocated workers throughout the region. As a result, local leaders and ECI determined that dedicated economic recovery support is necessary for the region’s recovery from the pandemic. The recovery coordinator will conduct business retention efforts to ensure local businesses have the resources necessary to recover. The coordinator will also analyze workforce development priorities, facilitate Opportunity Zone awareness among the local business community, and cultivate a supportive entrepreneurship infrastructure throughout the region.
• $1,069,261 in two Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $267,316 in local investments, as follows:
  • $969,261 in Assistance to Nuclear Closure Communities, matched by $242,316 in local investment, to the Southwestern Michigan Commission/Regents of the University of Michigan/Barren-Cass-Van Buren Workforce Development Board, Inc. (Kinexus), Benton Harbor/Berrien County, Michigan, to support the Southwestern Michigan Commission, and its regional partners with developing an Economic Recovery Strategy to prepare for and recover from the impending closure of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Berrien County, Michigan. The project will bring together a broad swathe of regional leaders and stakeholders to undertake a strategic planning process that will chart a course for the region’s economic recovery and enhance the region’s resilience in the face of future economic shocks. Once completed, the plan will be a roadmap for economic recovery and diversification, which will help strengthen the regional economy.
  • $100,000, matched by $25,000 in local investment, to the City of Mission, Mission/Hidalgo County, Texas, to support the City of Mission with establishing the Mission Economic Resiliency, Innovation, and Training (MERIT) program that is geared towards assisting existing businesses with recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve resiliency to face future similar crises. The MERIT program will provide technical support services that include a series of online and/or in-person seminars led by one or more qualified consultants, and coaching services that will assist businesses in implementing changes to aid their recovery and build resiliency for future crises/emergency situations. Once completed, the project will promote economic sustainability, expand job opportunities, and promote growth throughout the region.
• $4,688,479 in two Public Works projects, matched by $7,861,663 in local investments, as follows:
  • $3,000,000, matched by $6,173,183 in local investment, to the Merced Community College District, Merced/Merced County, California, to support the Merced Community College District with renovating a campus-owned building that houses the Career Technical Education programs, preparing students for employment in high-demand and high-wage industry sectors in Merced County California, a designated Opportunity Zone. The project will enable Merced College to work with industry partners to provide targeted skills training in a variety of sectors, including Accounting and Business Administration, Child Development, Computer Science/Drone Technology, Mechanical Drafting and Design, Food and Nutrition, and Social and Human Services. Once completed, the project will bolster job creation, spur private investment, and strengthen economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 1,009 jobs and leverage $15,500,000 in private investment.
  • $1,688,479, matched by $1,688,480 in local investment, to the City of Fort Benton, Fort Benton/Chouteau County, Montana, to support the City of Fort Benton with promoting diversification of the region's agricultural industry through the extension of municipal water and wastewater services, streets, and stormwater facilities on a 105-acre designated industrial park in Montana. The project will include developing a "Hemp Campus" that brings farmers, processors, and manufacturers together in one location to create value-added products for a global market. Once completed, the project will bolster job creation, spur private investment, and advance economic resiliency throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 75 jobs and leverage $12,000,000 in private investment.
• $1,050,000 in one Partnership Planning project, matched by $262,500 in local investment, to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Kentucky Department for Local Government, which comprises all 15 of the Kentucky Area Development Districts. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.