Jump to main content.

THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE

This site contains information that has been considered archived and will no longer be updated. Please click here to go to the CURRENT eda.gov website.

A bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce
Newsroom

Newsroom

Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million in Eastern Wyoming Community College to Build Agriculture Technology Education Center

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
September 9, 2016


WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Eastern Wyoming Community College in Torrington, Wyo., to help build the Agricultural Technology Education Center (ATEC), which will provide customized trainings and degrees for students in the agriculture business sector.

“At the Department of Commerce, we have made skills and workforce development a top priority. Through our ‘Skills for Business’ initiative we support development of training programs workers need to secure the 21st century jobs business leaders are seeking to fill,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Eastern Wyoming Community College’s new Agricultural Technology Education Center will provide critical workforce development programs for those seeking jobs in agribusiness.”

The EDA grant will fund construction of the ATEC, which will include new laboratories for training and education, and foster workforce partnerships in the region. The ATEC will enable Eastern Wyoming Community College to expand its curriculum to provide the foundation for jobs in the primary areas of agriculture. According to grantee estimates, the project is anticipated to create 219 jobs and spur more than $63 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.