Press Release
U.S. Commerce Department Announces $1.2 Million Investment to Restore Flood Plain, Protect Business District in Dubuque, Iowa
Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Thursday, August 8, 2013
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to the city of Dubuque, Iowa, to rebuild flood-damaged sewer and water systems and create green infrastructure that will help protect the city’s central commercial area from future floods.
“This $1.2 million investment is an example of the Obama administration’s commitment to helping communities rebuild and recover in the wake natural disasters,” said Secretary Pritzker. “By helping rebuild critical infrastructure and restoring a flood plain, this EDA grant will help ensure the growth and sustainability of Dubuque businesses.”
The EDA grant will enable the rehabilitation and rebuilding of a deteriorated, century-old sewer system and the restoration of Bee Branch Creek, a long-buried tributary of the Mississippi River that is critical to the management of flood waters in Dubuque’s central commercial area. The project is expected to retain 106 jobs and spur $29 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
The 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.