Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million in Mountain City to Support Key Infrastructure Improvements
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
August 19, 2016
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1 million grant to the Town of Mountain City, Tenn., to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to support the expansion of a major local employer and protect businesses from flooding.
“Ensuring that our communities have the modern infrastructure they need to grow and thrive while becoming more resilient to natural disasters is a major focus of the Economic Development Administration,” said Secretary Pritzker. “This EDA investment will upgrade Mountain City’s water infrastructure to generate economic development and spur job growth in the region.”
The EDA grant will support the modernization of wastewater system infrastructure to assist the expansion of a major local employer within Johnson County. This investment will allow this employer to better rebound from future disasters, preventing financial losses and ensuring economic resiliency and vitality. According to Mountain City, this investment is expected to create 80 high-paying jobs and generate $120 million in private investment.
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. To learn more about EDA, visit www.eda.gov.