Press Release
U.S. EDA Invests $2 Million to Support the Growth of Manufacturing in Anderson, South Carolina
July 28, 2011
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to Anderson Regional Joint Water System of Anderson, S.C., to make critical water system improvements needed to serve a new paper products manufacturing facility. The project is expected to create 600 jobs and generate $750 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
"The Obama administration is working with local communities across the country to promote job creation and business growth," Locke said. "This EDA grant will provide the vital infrastructure improvements needed to help create jobs and keep Anderson companies competitive."
The investment will help build a new raw water intake and pump station on Lake Hartwell that will provide water to a new First Quality Tissue manufacturing facility. The facility will support employment for a wide range of the region's manufacturing workers and utilize state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to produce environmentally responsible products.
The Obama Administration is committed to building a stronger economy by investing in the ingenuity and creativity of the American people to create the new products, new industries and new jobs of the future. The President recently launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in an effort to bring industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging technologies that will create high-quality manufacturing jobs and enhance our global competitiveness. The manufacturing sector has led the economic recovery over the past two years, with more than 240,000 jobs added since the beginning of 2010.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration:
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.