U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.9 Million to Support Disaster Recovery Efforts in Georgia

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $2.9 million in grants to the state of Georgia to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to support local disaster recovery efforts. According to grantee estimates, the projects are expected to spur more than $70 million in private investment.

"The Trump Administration has been diligently working to rebuild American communities in the wake of last year's natural disasters," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "These projects will create hundreds of new jobs throughout Georgia, while attracting new businesses to Atlanta and Hawkinsville."

"Georgia has been a good steward of both state and federal dollars, and these investments in projects to help Hawkinsville and Atlanta will provide immediate jobs, continue to spur development, and accelerate our state's recovery efforts following multiple natural disasters," said U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. "I appreciate the administration's continued investment in Georgia's infrastructure and future."

The EDA investments announced today are:

* The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Inc., will receive $1.5 million to help fund infrastructure improvements at the Pittsburgh Yards development in Atlanta. The project will provide a mixture of commercial and light industrial space, including office space, storage, and shared retail store fronts along the Atlanta Beltline. According to grantee estimates, this project is expected to create 270 jobs and generate $20 million in private investment.

* The City of Hawkinsville will receive $1.4 million to upgrade the North Water Pollution Control Plant. The improvements will accommodate new and expanding businesses in the Hawkinsville Highway 247 Industrial and Distribution Park. According to grantee estimates, this project is expected to create 82 jobs and generate $53 million in private investment.

These projects were made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Middle Georgia Economic Development District. EDA funds the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Middle Georgia Economic Development District 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.

In addition, these projects are being funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) (PDF), in which Congress appropriated to EDA $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, wildfires, and other calendar year 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.