U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.9 Million to Protect Businesses From Flooding in Valentine, 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 $1.9 million grant to the city of Valentine, Nebraska, to make stormwater infrastructure improvements needed to protect businesses from flooding. The EDA grant will be matched with nearly $1.4 million in local investment.

"The Trump Administration is committed to supporting locally-developed strategies designed to improve economic resilience in the wake of natural disasters," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "This EDA investment in the city of Valentine will support new flood prevention infrastructure to protect business and industry."

"The lack of adequate flood control and diversion infrastructure in Valentine has resulted in frequent disruptions to business that negatively impacts the economy and livelihood of residents," said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. "The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support this project to install new storm sewer pipes in a large section of the city to serve the local business community."

"Valentine was severely impacted by last year's severe weather, disrupting the local economy," said Senator Deb Fischer. "This critical federal grant will make stormwater infrastructure improvements to protect Valentine's businesses against the risks of future storms."

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Central Nebraska Economic 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.