U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $159 Million in Disaster Supplemental Funding to Support Economic Development Projects in Helene-Impacted States
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced $159 million in Disaster Supplemental funding awards to several states impacted by Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.
The EDA awards announced today are:
Erwin Utilities Authority (Erwin, Tennessee): $46.5 million for wastewater infrastructure improvements to support local businesses in response to Hurricane Helene.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: $25.0 million for sewer infrastructure improvements to support the tourism economy following recent flooding.
Erwin Utilities Authority (Erwin, Tennessee): $20.6 million for construction of a new electrical substation to support business expansion in the Riverside Industrial Park following Hurricane Helene.
Hendersonville, North Carolina: $20.1 million for wastewater infrastructure improvements to support the local manufacturing industry, severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Greeneville Water Commission (Greeneville, Tennessee): $19.1 million for water infrastructure improvements to support businesses in the region following Hurricane Helene.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (Philadelphia, Mississippi): $10.7 million for roadway, water, sewer and stormwater construction to support a new industrial site and foster business creation in the region.
Sturgis, Kentucky: $9.6 million for water infrastructure improvements to support local businesses in the region.
Forest City, North Carolina: $7.8 million for electrical infrastructure upgrades to support local businesses following Hurricane Helene.
“The Economic Development Administration remains committed to helping communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters to grow their economies, attract and retain new businesses, and create jobs for American workers,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Ben Page, performing the nonexclusive duties and functions of the Assistant Secretary. “The awards we are announcing today will enable critical infrastructure upgrades to some of the most heavily impacted areas and provide resources needed to support economic resilience.”
The EDA Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program makes approximately $1.5 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. EDA continues to review applications for portions of this funding on an ongoing basis – please review the application guidelines for more details.
EDA releases announcements for grants over $1 million. For more information on all EDA awards and programs, please visit eda.gov.
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 invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.