Press Release
U.S. Economic Development Administration Invests $1 Million to Help Build Critical Infrastructure and Create Jobs in Carmi, Illinois
U.S. Senators Durbin, Kirk & Congressman Shimkus Applaud Disaster Recovery Investment
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $1 million grant to the city of Carmi, Illinois, that will fund construction of access roads and sewer lines for a new city-owned industrial park. Businesses in Carmi were severely impacted by floods in 2011, and the city’s new business park will provide a location outside of the flood plain. The EDA-investment is expected to generate 22 new jobs and leverage an additional $1.4 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
“This EDA investment is a great example of the Obama administration’s commitment to helping communities affected by natural disasters rebuild their critical infrastructure,” said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine. “The EDA grant announced today will help provide a new place for businesses in the city of Carmi to relocate, grow, and create jobs, and will help ensure that the city’s infrastructure remains resilient in the face of future disasters.”
“Not only will this federal investment create local construction jobs as the access roads and sewer lines are built, it will also help attract new business to the area which will spur economic growth, create jobs throughout the region, and support the Carmi community’s long-term recovery efforts,” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said.
“I applaud the EDA for providing Carmi with the tools necessary for critical infrastructure development,” U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said. “EDA funds will make possible a new city-owned industrial park outside of the flood plain, keeping and creating essential jobs in the area.”
“I appreciate EDA’s investment in Carmi. This business park expansion will keep needed jobs right here,” said U.S. Congressman John Shimkus.
The work funded by EDA includes construction of 2,295 feet of roadway sufficient to handle heavy-duty trucks and approximately 1,180 linear feet of eight-inch sanitary sewer lines to service the entire 11-acre industrial park. The new road will connect with two major transportation routes, Highways 14 and 1. The EDA-funded work is being done in cooperation with the Delta Regional Authority, which funded the installation of waterlines to the industrial park, making the site fully equipped to accommodate new business tenants.
This project is part of a $200 million appropriation made by Congress to EDA to help communities that received a major disaster designation in fiscal year 2011 with long-term economic recovery and infrastructure support.
Within the context of the administration’s National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) (PDF), EDA serves as the Coordinating Agency on behalf of the Department of Commerce for the Economic Recovery Support Function (RSF) to coordinate the activities of a diverse group of partner agencies supporting recovery in disaster-impacted communities. The activities consist primarily of improved information sharing and the leveraging of existing resources to make a positive impact for communities affected by disasters.
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.