Grant

July 29-August 1, 2019

  • EDA announced 31 investments from July 29-August 1, 2019, totaling $38,430,450, which is matched by $19,624,329 in local investments. These investments include the following: (1) $30,410,437 in 15 Economic Adjustment Assistance projects to help communities design and implement strategies to adjust or bring about change to their economy in response to structural damage to their underlying economic base; which includes eight projects for $22,887,514 that will help create 1,840 jobs, save 370 jobs, and leverage $119,212,500 in private investment; (2) $6,911,312 in four Public Works projects to help communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure that will help create 966 jobs, save 500 jobs, and leverage $209,500,000 in private investment; (3) $112,181 in two Local Technical Assistance projects to strengthen the capacity of local or state organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective economic development programs; (4) $916,520 in nine Partnership Planning projects to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process; and (5) $80,000 in one Technical Assistance University Center project to make the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development practitioner community.
    • $30,410,437 in 15 Economic Adjustment Assistance projects, matched by $11,473,056 in local investments, as follows:
      • $8,000,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $2,620,000 in private investment, to the City of Albany, Albany/Dougherty County, Georgia, to fund new construction to the underground utility electric and fiber optic infrastructure, to serve facilities and businesses in a designated Opportunity Zone, near downtown Albany. The project will provide needed enhancements to the utility system to support the city with resiliency from future occurrences of failure in the event of natural disasters. Once completed, the project will provide community access to high-speed internet with reliable electrical power, support the development of new businesses, and create employment opportunities throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 7 jobs, save 10 jobs, and leverage $25,000,000 in private investment.
      • $7,463,295 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $4,536,705 in local investment, to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, St. Petersburg/Pinellas County, Florida, to fund construction of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center Incubator, a state-of-the-art business incubator located in an Opportunity Zone in St. Petersburg. The incubator will enhance and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing affordable and quality office space for product development for growing businesses in the region. Once completed, the project will support economic diversification and resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and sudden and severe events including employment loss in the industrial sector, which will help facilitate new business formation, job growth and increase tax revenue throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 466 jobs and leverage $66,600,000 in private investment.
      • $5,000,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by 1,250,000 in local investment, to the University of Texas at Austin, Austin/Travis County, Texas, to fund renovations to the Center for Coastal Ocean Science at the University of Texas - Austin Science Institute Port Street Campus in Port Aransas, Texas. The project supports upgrades needed to the campus as a result of damages from Hurricane Harvey. Once completed, these upgrades will support the center in providing research and data to aid sustainable economic development throughout the Gulf Coast Region, which will attract private investment, strengthen the regional economy, and create jobs.
      • $3,000,000 in 2018 disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $1,309,399 in local investment, to the Dickinson Economic Development Corporation, Dickinson/Galveston County, Texas, to support the Dickinson Economic Development Corporation in Texas with the renovation of a storm-damaged, 30,000 sq. ft., building, to help establish the Gulf Coast Market. The project will create a thriving small business development and revitalization hub to strengthen the regional economy, develop a prepared workforce, and support private investment throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 390 jobs.
      • $2,392,800 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental fund, matched by $265,867 in local investment, to the Florida Gateway College, Lake City/Columbia County, Florida, to fund construction of the Gateway College - Commercial Vehicle Driving Postsecondary Adult Vocational Facility in a designated Opportunity Zone in Columbia County. The facility will provide individuals with valuable skills in the trucking and distribution industry sectors, which will promote higher paying employment opportunities for the region’s workforce. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 310 jobs, save 285 jobs, and leverage $52,500 in private investment.
      • $1,878,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $470,020 in local investment, to the Town of Kershaw, Kershaw/Lancaster County, South Carolina, to fund water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in the town of Kershaw, to support economic diversification and recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Once completed, the project will help reduce business disruptions and increase resiliency in the wake of natural disasters, which will attract private investment, strengthen the regional economy, and create jobs.
      • $1,150,739 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $287,684 in local investment, to Ohio University, Athens/Athens County, Ohio, to fund infrastructure upgrades to the Ohio University Innovation Center in Athens County. This project will renovate offices to provide an array of business incubation resources to expand, diversify, and create new entrepreneur business opportunities, which will lead to job creation and serve as a catalyst for economic development in the communities that have been impacted by the decline in the coal industry. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 100 jobs and leverage $20,000,000 in private investment.
      • $500,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $266,478 in local investment, to LiftFund, Inc., San Antonio/Bexar County, Texas, to fund a technical assistance program to support entrepreneurial and business development through Liftfund’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Program. The program will provide a disaster readiness toolkit, seminars, consultations, and online interactive learning videos, to increase disaster preparedness and build resiliency for small businesses in counties affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Completion of the project will foster conditions that support job creation, economic stability, and strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial environment. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 45 jobs and save 25 jobs.
      • $250,000 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $250,000 in local investment, to the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation, Colstrip/Rosebud County, Montana, fund a revolving loan fund, to provide financing to the coal industries in the counties impacted by the imminent closure of the power plant in Colstrip. The project will help promote growth and economic development by increasing investment, employment, and economic diversity throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 22 jobs and leverage $2,560,000 in private investment.
      • $238,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental Funding, with no local match, to the LaJolla Band of Luiseno Indians, Pauma Valley/San Diego County, California, to fund the La Jolla Indian Reservation disaster resiliency strategy in San Diego County. The Tribe will establish a La Jolla Economic Development Authority to oversee creation of an ongoing disaster resiliency strategy for its economy and community. Once implemented, the project will provide a comprehensive plan to help the region become more resilient to future disasters and economic downturns, which will diversify and strengthen the local economy.
      • $190,000 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, with no local match, to Superior California Economic Development, Redding/Shasta County, California, to fund the hiring of a disaster recovery coordinator to focus on disaster preparedness and post-disaster economic recovery in Shasta County, California. The recovery coordinator will identify potential resiliency, mitigation, and economic recovery projects to help create a stable economic climate for business attraction and retention, as well as improve the well-being of the region’s citizens when faced with potential devastating disasters.
      • $130,680 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $59,680 in local investment, to the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Eureka/Humboldt County, California, to fund construction of the Business Service Center (BSC) in Humboldt County, to address workforce training needs in emerging and expanding industries in response to recent job losses in the wood product sector. BSC will help entrepreneurs and fledgling businesses by providing access to resources they need for growth and long-term success. In addition, the project will create opportunities for young entrepreneurs and help encourage youth retention in the community by diversifying the local economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 500 jobs, save 50 jobs, and leverage $5,000,000 in private investment.
      • $87,323, matched by $87,323 in local investment, to University Enterprises, Inc., Sacramento/Sacramento County, California, to fund the Sacramento State-California Mobility Center (CMC) feasibility study to examine if the state has the capacity to support the new center. The mission of the CMC is to build an electric vehicle prototyping facility that will develop and promote electric and autonomous vehicle technologies in the greater Sacramento region. Once completed, the project will help foster conditions that support the creation of more, higher paying employment opportunities for the region’s workforce.
      • $79,600 in 2018 Disaster Supplemental funds, matched by $19,900 in local investment, to the City of Mt. Shasta, Mounty Shasta/Siskiyou County, California, to support the city of Mt. Shasta with conducting a feasibility study to determine the viability of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) on a large property known as ‘The Landing’ in Siskiyou County. EIFDs are new, innovative tools that help fund required infrastructure and public facilities that are critical to economic resilience. Once completed, the project will provide long-term economic growth, support business development, and create new jobs throughout the region.
      • $50,000 in Assistance to Coal Communities, matched by $50,000 in local investment, to the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation, Colstrip/Rosebud County, Montana, to support the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation with creating a marketing study, strategy, and plan to support diversification in Colstrip, Montana. Once completed, the project will provide a comprehensive multimedia marketing strategy that will attract private investment, create jobs, and expand tourism and businesses in the region.
    • $6,911,312 in four Public Works projects, matched by $7,126,352 in local investment, as follows:
      • $4,118,032, matched by $4,118,032 in local investment, to the City of Huntsville, Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama, to fund construction of a separation bridge to serve Toyota Mazda Inc. in Madison County. The project will provide an opportunity to further industrial and commercial development adjacent to the site and accommodate additional vehicles that frequent the roadway due to the automotive manufacture’s location. Once completed, the project will help create multiple sustainable job opportunities, increase the development of other industries, and provide an economic boost throughout the region. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 320 jobs and leverage $128,000,000 in private investment.
      • $2,000,000, matched by 2,600,000 in local investment, to the City of Lavonia, Franklin County, and Hart County, Lavonia/Franklin County, Georgia, to fund sewer and wastewater improvements to serve a new automotive parts manufacturer locating in Gateway Industrial Park in Lavonia. The improvements will enhance the marketability of the park and its assets by enabling existing industrial businesses to expand while attracting new industrial development to the area, which will strengthen the local economy, support private capital investment and create jobs throughout the region. The grantees estimate that this investment will help create 400 jobs and leverage $54,000,000 in private investment.
      • $440,000, matched by $320,000 in local investment, to the Town of Brattleboro, Brattleboro/Windham County, Vermont, to fund infrastructure improvements to accommodate increased water demand and wastewater flows for a light industrial park along Exit 1 in Brattleboro. The park is a prime site for businesses in the regional manufacturing cluster and with these improvements, the park is expected to provide new industrial and workforce opportunities within an Opportunity Zone. This investment will assist the region with developing new job opportunities to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 196 jobs and leverage $27,500,000 in private investment.
      • $353,280, matched by $88,320 in local investment, to the Idaho Rural Water Association, Boise/Ada County, Idaho, to fund the construction of new infrastructure to house a workforce training facility in Boise. The project will assist the region in providing technical skills training in water and wastewater sustainable industries, which will foster conditions that support the creation of more, higher paying employment opportunities for the region’s workforce. The grantee estimates that this investment will help create 50 jobs and save 500 jobs.
    • $112,181 in two Local Technical Assistance projects, matched by $112,181 in local investments, to strengthen the capacity of local or state organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning, as follows:
      • $70,000, matched by $70,000 in local investment, to the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, Rochester/Strafford County, New Hampshire, to support the Strafford Regional Planning Commission with developing a full 5-year comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) update to: cultivate collaborative efforts and leadership for economic advancement in the region; create awareness of the need to market and brand the Strafford region, and identify areas of economic distress and opportunities in the area. Once completed, the project will provide a plan for capitalizing on new opportunities in workforce development, which will lead to the creation of jobs and businesses throughout the region.
      • $42,181, matched by $42,181 in local investment, to the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, Nashua/Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, to fund the Nashua Millyard Development Plan and Wilton Collaborative Work Space Feasibility Project, to conduct economic development analyses to assist communities, one urban and one rural, in achieving their economic development goals. The project will analyze the feasibility of developing a collaborative workspace in downtown Wilton, which could include a business accelerator, incubator, maker-space or a hybrid model. Once completed, the study will help further job creation, business formation and private investment in the region.
    • $916,520 in nine Partnership Planning projects, matched by $790,000 in local investments, to support the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
    • $80,000 in one Technical Assistance University Center project, matched by $122,740 in local investments, to support the fourth year of a five-year University Center (UC) program, which is a competitively-based partnership between EDA and academic institutions that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development practitioner community.