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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million in Community College to Support Innovation and Entrepreneurship


WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to the Maricopa County Community College District and Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., to help renovate a warehouse located near downtown Phoenix for use as a makerspace. The site will provide entrepreneurs, inventors, and the small business community with a place to access the tools and equipment needed to generate ideas and develop products.

“Providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to grow and thrive is key to our country’s competitiveness,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Gateway Community College’s new makerspace will provide critical manufacturing skills development to help support small business enterprises in the Phoenix region.”

The 50-year old building will be completely renovated into a makerspace for use by students and citizens for learning various job skills and technical training. The makerspace will provide economic opportunity for residents of Phoenix and support five of the seven priorities identified in the city’s Economic Development and Education Strategic Plan. The project will also assist the region in overcoming economic distress due to mass layoffs and employer reorganizations, which resulted in more than 1,500 jobs lost in the past year.

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.