U.S. Department of Commerce Intends to Invest $3 Million in Disaster Supplemental Funding to Support Aerospace Manufacturing Workforce Development in West Virginia
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) intends to award $3 million in Disaster Supplemental funding to the Aerospace, Resilience, Manufacturing, & Operations for Readiness (ARMOR) coalition to support aerospace manufacturing workforce development in West Virginia.
This award will create a national hub for aerospace and defense innovation, through airport renovations, equipment, and curriculum development. It is provided in response to Hurricane Helene, which impacted the region in 2024.
“President Trump is committed to strengthening American leadership in aerospace, and this grant of more than $3 million does just that by expanding West Virginia’s technical capabilities. Backed by approximately $60 million in additional industry commitments, the projects are expected to support nearly 600 jobs in West Virginia and build the most advanced training facilities at Huntington Tri-State Airport and Marshall University,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The EDA Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program is making approximately $1.45 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. The intended awards announced today are provided through the program’s Industry Transformation Pathway, which was designed to accelerate the pace and scale of developing new sectors or existing sectors through large-scale, catalytic grants that support the implementation of coordinated projects in disaster-impacted communities.
“The Economic Development Administration will make targeted investments to catalyze private-sector investments and help disaster-impacted communities economically recover by transforming local industries so they are primed for long-term growth,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Ben Page, performing the nonexclusive duties and functions of the Assistant Secretary. “This project will support rebuilding efforts within affected communities while changing the trajectory of their regional economies to drive sustained economic prosperity for years to come.”
EDA continues to review applications for portions of the Disaster Supplemental Grant Program on an ongoing basis – please review the notice of funding opportunity for more details.
EDA releases announcements for grants over $1 million. Visit eda.gov for more information on all EDA awards and programs.
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.