Commerce Invests $2.6M to Make Flood-Resistant Infrastructure Improvements Needed to Support Business Growth in Jefferson County, Nebraska

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on Oct. 7:

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.6 million grant to Jefferson County, Nebraska, to make roadway infrastructure improvements needed to ensure access to the county's largest employer during flood events and support future business growth. The EDA grant, to be matched with more than $652,000 in state and local investment, is expected to create 30 jobs and spur $29.5 million in private investment.

"The Trump Administration is committed to helping disaster-impacted communities build the modern infrastructure they need to keep commerce moving and workers working," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "This EDA investment will move a critical roadway out of the floodplain to support the expansion plans of a major local manufacturing business and encourage future business growth."

"The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Jefferson County's strategy to protect its businesses from flooding and encourage additional business growth," said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. "This project will establish nearly three miles of new roadway outside of the floodplain to serve the needs of a major clay products manufacturing firm and to attract other businesses looking to locate in the county."

"I am pleased that Jefferson County has received this federal grant," said Senator Deb Fischer. "This investment in the county's roadways will help protect our businesses from the impact of future flooding. It will make the community more resilient and help attract more businesses to the area."

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeast Nebraska Development District, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20) (https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ20/PLAW-116publ20.pdf), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (https://www.eda.gov/pdf/about/Economic-Adjustment-Assistance-Program-1-Pager.pdf) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA's Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.