U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.1 Million to Protect Businesses From Flooding in Dayton, Ohio

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on Feb. 4, 2021:

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.1 million grant to the Miami Conservancy District, Dayton, Ohio, to protect the Old North Dayton area from flooding by upgrading the Greater Old North Dayton levee. This EDA grant, to be matched with $276,254 in local investment, is expected to retain 100 jobs and generate $5 million in private investment.

"Supporting community-led disaster resilience efforts is a top priority for the Economic Development Administration," said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. "This EDA investment will reduce flood risk from the Great Miami River for businesses, homes, and infrastructure and ensure long-term economic benefits to the Miami Valley Region."

"This is great news for the Dayton region," said Senator Rob Portman. "I'm excited that the Conservancy, along with local investment, will be able to use these funds to protect the Old North Dayton area from flooding by upgrading the deteriorated concrete that armors the Greater Old North Dayton levee. In doing so, lives, properties, jobs, and businesses will be safeguarded and protected."

"Upgrading Dayton's levee system remains critical to our region's safety and local economy," said Congressman Michael Turner (OH-10). "I'm appreciative of the EDA's $1.1 million grant which will support key infrastructure improvements in the Miami Valley. These improvements are necessary to our region to help prevent future flood disasters, and will help retain jobs and generate further investment in Miami Valley businesses."

The EDA-funded improvements include re-armoring the levee with concrete and utilizing the levee as a new alternative transportation route for the region's commuters. The project will ensure that more than 700 local businesses have adequate levee protection from future disaster events, providing the region's employers with the protection and confidence that they need to compete and grow.

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.