Where We Work

Active Missions

Oklahoma

FY2024 Oklahoma Tornadoes, DR-4776-OK

Mission Dates: 6/03-8/30/2024

EDA is deployed to help the counties hard hit by recent tornadoes build back stronger and more resilient.

Photo of a Dollar Tree Distribution Center in Marietta, OK, half demolished
Marietta, OK Dollar Tree Distribution Center
Photo of buildings destroyed in downtown Sulpher, OK
Sulphur, OK downtown

Hawaii

FY2023 Hawaii Wildfires, DR-4724-HI

Mission Dates: 8/19/2023 – 9/30/2024

EDA has been deployed to Hawaii following catastrophic wildfires on the island of Maui in August 2023. Throughout its mission, EDA will be assisting communities in their efforts to rebuild and become more resilient to future disasters.

Photo of someone handing a yellow piece of paper to someone else
EDA has been deployed to Hawaii following catastrophic wildfires on the island of Maui in August 2023.
Naomi Friedman, EDA’s Disaster Recovery & Resilience Coordinator, meets with officials from SBA and Maui’s Office of Economic Development.
Naomi Friedman, EDA’s Disaster Recovery & Resilience Coordinator, meets with officials from SBA and Maui’s Office of Economic Development.

Past Missions/Closed Missions

Guam

FY 2023 Typhoon Mawar, DR-4715-GU

Mission Dates: 7/2023 – 5/31/2024

EDA has been deployed to Guam to lead the Economic Recovery Support Function in response to Typhoon Mawar.

EDA has been deployed to Guam (7/31/2023- 10/31/2023) to lead the Economic Recovery Support Function in response to Typhoon Mawar.

Florida

FY2023, Hurricane Idalia, DR-4734-FL

Mission Dates: 9/8/2023 – 5/3/2024

Following Hurricane Idalia, EDA was deployed to Florida to help coordinate the Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF). This new mission will support the largely rural impacted area recover from the aftermath of this storm and become more resilient to future disasters.

EDA led a tour and listening sessions in the Hurricane Idalia impacted area of Florida in November 2023.
EDA led a tour and listening sessions in the Hurricane Idalia impacted area of Florida in November 2023.
Steinhatchee/Taylor County, FL
Steinhatchee/Taylor County, FL
FY 2022 Hurricane Ian, DR-4673-FL

Mission Dates: 10/2022 – 9/2023

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, EDA deployed immediately for a recovery mission (10/2/2022 – 9/30/2023) 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. Please read more about EDA’s work in Florida.

Regional Economic Recovery & Resiliency Workshop
Regional Economic Recovery & Resiliency Workshops

Additionally, as part of the Hurricane Ian Mission, the ERSF team joined local, state, and federal partners to host a series of virtual sessions titled, Industries of the Future, A Pathway Toward Economic Resilience. Six webinar sessions highlighted opportunities to diversify Florida’s economic base, build a more resilient economy, and create high-wage, high-skill employment opportunities. These industries include the Blue Economy, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Aerospace & Aviation, and Agricultural & Life Sciences. The sessions occurred during the summer of 2023.

Please read the Hurricanes Ian and Nicole Recovery Needs Assessment. (PDF)

FY 2019 Hurricane Michael, DR-4399-FL 

Mission Dates: 11/2018-9/2019

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: 9/2017- 2/2018

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.

Vermont

FY2023 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, DR-4720-VT

Mission Dates: 9/6/2023 – 2/6/2024

EDA was deployed to Vermont to lead the Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF) and assist in coordinating activities between other federal agencies in the field. EDA contributed to preparing a Needs Assessment and Recovery Strategies (PDF) documents and provided ongoing support to Vermont’s Economic Recovery Task Force. EDA also attended the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Town Fair, FEMA Regional Recovery Symposiums, and visited numerous impacted communities and regional planning commissions. Additionally, EDA awarded $414,897 to the Northern Vermont Economic Development District for a Recovery and Resiliency project in the Lamoille River Valley. Vermont has continued to experience flooding in August 2023 (DR-4744), December 2023 (DR-4762) and July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). EDA’s efforts in Vermont aim to enhance the state’s resiliency to future natural disasters and help communities recover from recent events.

Arkansas

FY 2023 Tornados, DR-4698-AR

Mission Dates: 4/2023 – 9/2023

EDA was activated in Arkansas (4/24/2023-9/30/2023) to support communities in the aftermath of the tornado outbreak. During the mission, EDA engaged with the Central Arkansas and East Arkansas Economic Development Districts to facilitate recovery efforts and identify potential funding opportunities.

California

FY 2023 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides DR-4683-CA

Mission Dates: 2/2023 - 6/2023

FY 2023 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, DR-4699-CA

Mission Dates: 5/2023 – 8/2023

EDA was deployed to California for two missions (2/21/2023-6/21/2023 and 5/1/2023-8/31/2023) to lead the Economic Recovery Support Function in response to floods and severe storms in the region. The ERSF hosted several special events to ensure that communities had access to essential information and recovery resources.

In May of 2023, the Federal Partners for Coastal Resilience presented current funding and technical assistance opportunities to a virtual audience of 114. Additionally, EDA offered two in-person sessions (in Los Angeles and Sausalito) where interested grant applicants presented ideas to funding agencies who asked questions and provided general feedback.

As a part of the extended mission in California, EDA joined regional partners to host a series of four webinars on business resilience and access to capital. The webinars are listed and linked here:

Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito
Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito
Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito
Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito
Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito
Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito

Presentations made at the June 15th Coastal Resilience Meeting in Sausalito included (Top to Bottom) Frederick Carr, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria; Jessica Trask, San Jose State University; and Christopher Lim, Contra Costa Resource Conservation District.

Prior to  the mission, the California Association for Local Economic Development published the Economic Development Recovery and Resiliency Playbook (PDF) in partnership with EDA which served as a helpful resource during the missions.

Kentucky

FY 2022 Kentucky Floods, DR-4663-KY

Mission dates: 8/2022-4/2023

People talking at a table at the Economic Recovery & Resilience Community Conversation.  E. Kentucky, March 30, 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: 1/2022- 8/2022

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:

Louisiana

FY 2022 Hurricane Ida, DR 4611-LA 

Mission Dates: 10/2021-3/2022

FY 2021 Hurricane Laura, DR-4559-LA

Mission Dates: 11/2020-4/2021

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.

EDA staff survey damage from Hurricane Ida and visit with local, state, and federal partners to advance the state's recovery (December 2021).
EDA staff survey damage from Hurricane Ida and visit with local, state, and federal partners to advance the state's recovery (December 2021).
EDA staff visit with local, state, and federal partners to advance the state's recovery (December 2021).
EDA staff visit with local, state, and federal partners to advance the state's recovery (December 2021).

Mississippi

FY 2023 Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornados, DR-4697-MS

Mission Dates: 3/2023 - 6/2023

EDA was deployed to Mississippi (3/31/2023 – 6/29/2023) in response to severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornados. The ERSF team conducted four Community Listening Sessions and engaged with more than 150 attendees representing over 80 local, county, and state offices and agencies, the business community, nonprofit sector, and other recovery-related leadership organizations. Representatives from every impacted county joined the sessions to examine key recovery topics including access to housing and broadband internet.

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 FloodsDR-4451-MO

Mission dates: 10/2019-3/2020

Encore 2 is one of the businesses facing reoccurring flooding in Moberly
Encore 2 is one of the businesses facing reoccurring flooding in Moberly

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.

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.

Nebraska

FY 2019 Midwest Floods, DR-4451-MO

Mission dates: 10/2019-3/2020

New Mexico

FY 2022 New Mexico Wildfires and Flooding, DR-4652-NM

Mission Dates: 7/2022 – 5/11/2023

Following devastating wildfires in New Mexico, EDA reported to duty on 7/18/2022-5/11/2023 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.

Puerto Rico

FY 2017 Hurricane Maria, DR-4339-PR

Mission dates: 11/2017 –5/2023

EDA has been active in PR since (11/2017 – 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]

In April 2023, EDA officially certified and recognized 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]

First Public Leaders Learning Lab held in collaboration with SPREDD and the ERSF in October 18, 2022
First Public Leaders Learning Lab held in collaboration with SPREDD and the ERSF in October 18, 2022
Alejandra Castillo, officially christening the Blue Manta and EDA Investment to support the Blue Economy in Puerto Rico
Alejandra Castillo, officially christening the Blue Manta and EDA Investment to support the Blue Economy in Puerto Rico

Texas

FY 2018 Hurricane Harvey, DR-4332-TX

Mission Dates: 8/2017-3/2019

Texas Council of Governments worked with EDA to create regionally-specific workshops for recovery coordination
Texas Council of Governments worked with EDA to create regionally-specific workshops for recovery coordination

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.  Please also read this story on EDA’s role in Hurricane Harvey recovery. 

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]

Washington

FY 2022 Washington Repeat Flooding, DR-4635-WA

Mission Dates: 7/2022 - 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.

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.