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Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.8 Million to Provide Critical Hospital Infrastructure Enhancements in Mobile, Alabama

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.8 million grant to the University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, to install a new emergency generator system to ensure consistent and reliable power for the University Hospital. The EDA grant will be matched with more than $950,000 in local investment.

“Mobile County was severely impacted by Hurricane Michael in 2018,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This investment will ensure that the University Hospital, a designated Federal Safety Net Hospital, will continue to provide consistent medical services in the event of long-term power disruptions created by natural disasters or other power interruptions.”

“President Trump is committed to improving our nation’s infrastructure and supporting communities as they rebuild after natural disasters,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The University of South Alabama’s new emergency generator system will prevent catastrophic power outages in the event of future natural disasters.”

“I thank President Trump and Secretary Ross for their commitment to Mobile and the Gulf Coast through the investment of healthcare infrastructure,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “South Alabama is no stranger to severe weather and this will ensure we can maintain critical care during an emergency.”

“I am pleased that the University of South Alabama hospital has been granted these funds for a badly-needed emergency generator system,” said Senator Richard Shelby. “The Mobile hospital is located in the alley of numerous hurricanes and storms every year. This generator will safeguard the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and pediatric emergency department, allowing the hospital to continue treating patients during severe weather and power outages.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (PDF), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

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.

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