Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.8 Million to Support Business Incubator and Training Facility in Pennsylvania
Contact: John Atwood, 202-482-4085
March 14, 2012
WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today announced two Economic Development Administration (EDA) investments totaling $2.8 million, which will help fund the construction of a new job training center in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, and the building of a biotech business incubator in Jessup, Pennsylvania. The two investments are expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.
"The $2.8 million that we are investing in Pennsylvania is an example of the Obama Administration's commitment to supporting U.S. innovation vital to an economy that is build to last," Bryson said. "The grants announced today will help train Pennsylvania workers so they are ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow, and help businesses build things here and sell them everywhere around the world."
The EDA investment of $1 million in the Jessup Business Park Technology Incubator in Jessup, Pennsylvania, will allow for the construction of a 43,000 square foot facility that incorporates the latest "smart green" technologies. The incubator will be targeted at biotechnology companies, and will allow the region to better leverage its resources, such as a nearby medical college and its proximity to major markets in New York and Philadelphia.
The EDA investment of $1.8 million in the Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund facility in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, will help fund the construction of a new, LEED certified facility that will be used to train workers who will be employed in growing sectors of the Pennsylvania and Ohio economies, such as the Marcellus Shale industry and heavy construction.
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.