Where We Work
Active Missions
Mississippi
FY 2023 Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes, DR-4697-MS
Mission dates: 3/31/2023 – 5/9/2023
California
FY 2023 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, DR-4683-CA
Mission dates: 02/2023- 05/23
The EDA has been activated in California to lead the Economic Recovery Support Function, given the various floods and storms in the region.
- Economic Development Recovery & Resiliency Playbook, California Association for Local Economic Development, in partnership with EDA (2022)
Puerto Rico
FY 2017 Hurricane Maria, DR-4339-PR
Mission dates: 11/2017 –5/2023
EDA has been active in PR since (11/2022 – 5/15/2023), after the landfall of 2 catastrophic hurricanes, which crippled the Island to an unprecedented level of devastation, making it the nation’s most logistically complex response in FEMA history. Thus far, EDA has invested over $134M in 31 projects in Puerto Rico and over $60M in 11 projects in the US Virgin Islands to advance their economic recovery. [Read more]
Later this year, EDA will officially certify and recognize the Southern Puerto Rico Economic Development District (SPREDD), Puerto Rico’s first regional EDD. It will focus on helping small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs develop a favorable business climate for the island’s southern region. [Read more]
April 2022, Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo, and EDA Regional Director Linda Cruz Carnall visited Puerto Rico to meet with EDA grantees, Governors’ Pierluisi and key stakeholders to discuss challenges and recommendations for economic growth on the island and how the federal government and Puerto Rico can continue to work together to advance a shared economic development agenda. [Read more]
Florida
FY 2022 Hurricane Ian, DR-4673-FL
Mission Dates: 10/2022 – 04/2023
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, EDA deployed immediately for a six-month mission (10/2/22-4/11/23) to help affected communities rebuild and become more resilient to future disasters. From March 13 – 24, EDA co-sponsored Regional Economic Recovery & Resiliency Workshops with affected Regional Planning Councils.
New Mexico
FY 2022 New Mexico Wildfires and Flooding, DR-4652-NM
Mission Dates: 07/2022 – 3/2023
Following devastating wildfires in New Mexico, EDA reported to duty on 7/18/22-3/11/23 to help communities build back local economies. Working with USDA and other partners, EDA has been helping the word products industry salvage timber, saving jobs and income.
Past Missions/Closed Missions
Missouri
FY 2022 Missouri Flooding, DR-4665-MO
Mission Dates: 9/2022 – 1/2023
EDA led the Economic Recovery Support in the St. Louis region in response to severe floods.
FY 2019 Missouri Floods, DR-4451-MO
Mission dates: 10/2019-03/2020
In 2019 EDA was deployed in Missouri (10/8/19-3/16/20) and Nebraska (6/15/19-8/15/19) to help communities recover from severe flooding. Read about EDA’s work in Missouri to support businesses and communities in their time of need.
EDA invested $4.8 million in grant funding enabling the city of Moberly, MO improve water infrastructure. Businesses in downtown Moberly were previously struggling with recurring flooding, which discouraged investment. The grant will help the city attract investment and revitalize the downtown area.
Encore 2 is one of the businesses that was facing reoccurring flooding in Moberly, MO before an EDA investment.
Kentucky
FY 2022 Kentucky Floods, DR-4663-KY
Mission dates: 08/2022-04/2023
EDA reported to duty to lead Economic Recovery Support for the KY floods on 8/11/22 through 4/20/23. We are working closely with the Commonwealth’s Cabinets for Economic Development and Labor and Education, Area Development Districts, CDFIs, Workforce Investment Boards, the Small Business Administration, the USDA, the Department of Labor, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Appalachian Regional Commission,to identify resources and funding opportunities to meet needs that were identified by stakeholders.
FY 2022 Kentucky Tornado, DR-4630-KY
Mission dates: 01/2022- 08/2022
EDA held a webinar series in July and August 2022 to help Western KY businesses and communities recover from the December tornadoes. Learn more about the webinars below:
Virgin Islands
FY 2017 Hurricane Maria, DR-4340-VI
Mission Dates: 11/2017-12/2022
EDA as Economic Recovery Support Function lead recently completed its five-year Hurricane Maria mission on December 20, 2022. The mission was led by Janelle Schindler, EDA’s Philadelphia Regional Office. Building partnership with territorial and Federal agencies, EDA helped USVI build capacity to become more resilient to future disasters. Among its activities, EDA supported a new Laborshed study (PDF) for USVI, helping the islands build its workforce for jobs of today and the future.
June 29, 2022- Deputy Assistance Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Alvord celebrated the grand opening of the University of the Virgin Islands Medical Simulation Center. The Center was made possible through a $14.1 million EDA disaster relief and recovery grant in 2019. [Read more]
Montana
FY 2022 Montana Severe Storm and Flooding, DR-4655-MT
Mission Dates: 8/2022 – 11/2022
Following the Yellowstone National Park floods, EDA deployed to help small gateway communities recover from floods’ disastrous economic effects. EDA served from 8/2-12/28/22, holding a strategic workshop on December 2, in Livingston, MT, allowing communities the chance to problem-solve and affirm a regional identity in working to increase future resiliency.
Washington
FY 2022 Washington Repeat Flooding, DR-4635-WA
Mission Dates: 07/2022 - 11/2022
From 7/15-11/15/22, EDA was deployed to help Clallam, Whatcom and Skagit Counties recover from repeat flooding and work to become more resilient to future flooding. Highlights included a large Climate Disaster Workshop in Clallam County in September. See the Natural Disaster Resilience Planning in North Olympic Peninsula, Final Report, June 2022, an integrated planning document in which EDA provided input.
Louisiana
FY 2022 Hurricane Ida, DR 4611-LA
Mission Dates: 10/21-3/22
FY 2021 Hurricane Laura, DR-4559-LA
Mission Dates: 11/2020-04/2021
EDA was activated for a 5-month mission to lead economic recovery support in Louisiana, following Hurricane Ida – a Category 4 storm which hit Louisiana on August 29, the anniversary of the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The most impacted parishes are in Southeastern LA. EDA will serve from 10/18/21-3/20/22.
Hurricanes Laura and Delta hit Louisiana with record-breaking strength during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, making for a uniquely challenging mission. EDA virtually deployed to lead the ERSF on November 1st for five months, with USDA and other federal partners. EDA convened a “Federal Interagency Resource Exchange” to learn more about the area’s significant economic recovery needs and to introduce local communities to federal resources and outside experts on issues such as rural broadband, disaster philanthropy, tourism, disaster resilience and agriculture. As a result, nearly 100 participants were engaged in problem-solving discussions and breakout groups on numerous programs, representing billions in potential funding.
Texas
FY 2018 Hurricane Harvey, DR-4332-TX
Mission Dates: 08/2017-03/2019
EDA facilitated a series of workshops to help 8 coastal Texas regions recover from Hurricane Harvey in 2018. The turnout, described as “fantastic”, included a broad variety of community stakeholders, that came to rely on EDA’s expertise. EDA convened the entire spectrum of Federal partners, and ensured the workshop emphasized resilience, face-to-face interactions and practical solutions to local problems. These workshops served more than 300 community leaders, sharing information on programs totaling $6.4 billion in funding.
Florida
FY 2019 Hurricane Michael, DR-4399-FL
Mission Dates: 11/2018-09/2019
The Economic RSF was active followed the Catastrophic Hurricane Michael in Florida, the mission was a holistic view of recovery, with all stakeholders working closely to leverage resources, reduce barriers to accessing aid, and identify long-term solutions which reduce natural hazard risk. [Read more]
FY 2017 Hurricane Irma, DR-4337-FL
Mission dates: 09/2017- 02/2018
Working in collaboration with economic development organizations and federal partners, EDA helped to organize seven Economic Recovery and Resiliency workshops in February 2018 to help the hard-hit Hurricane Irma communities. Read about the workshops here (PDF). Please also read a US Department of Housing and Urban Development article about the workshops.
Other Disaster Recovery & Resiliency Activities
California
EDA invested in a green infrastructure project in San Diego to reduce flooding to commercial enterprises and airport access routes. The project includes innovative upstream improvements to reduce runoff and debris deposited into the city’s stormwater infrastructure, while enhancing passive outdoor recreation and economic development opportunities for the region. [Read more]
To facilitate Butte County’s recovery from the 2018 Camp Wildfire, EDA partnered with 3CORE, a local Economic Development District. Together, they were able to provide emergency and gap financing to small businesses, secure several grants to plan and update transportation infrastructure, and host workshops informing partners on the granting process. That partnership is expected to result in the retainment or creation of nearly 1,000 jobs, and the generation of $32 million in private investment in Butte County alone.