U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3 Million to Protect Infrastructure Critical to the Business Community From Flooding in Branson, Missouri

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on June 24, 2021:

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to the city of Branson, Missouri, to construct a floodwall needed to protect infrastructure vital to the business community from flooding. The EDA grant will be matched with $6.6 million in state funds.

"President Biden is committed to helping communities impacted by natural disasters implement strategies to protect and grow their communities," said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "This EDA investment will protect the primary wastewater treatment plant that services Branson's popular tourism districts, preventing potential disruption and loss of jobs due to natural disasters."

"EDA plays an important role in supporting locally-driven disaster recovery and resiliency strategies," said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. "This EDA investment will protect the Compton Drive wastewater treatment plant to ensure that local businesses can remain operational in the event of future floods."

"Historic flooding hit the Branson community in 2017, disrupting thousands of lives and livelihoods all across the southwest region," said Governor Mike Parson. "Today's announcement includes more than $9.5 million in state and federal funds to create a floodwall that will go a long way in helping to mitigate future flood risk and protecting residents and the local economy."

"Protecting the Compton Drive wastewater treatment plant from flooding is important to helping Branson maintain its role as a top travel and tourism destination," said Senator Roy Blunt. "This project will help ensure that families and businesses in the region are better protected from future flooding. I'm glad to see funds provided by Congress continue to support small businesses, workers, and families throughout Missouri."

"I am thrilled that the EDA is investing substantial funds into the construction of a flood wall the protect the Compton Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant," said Congressman Billy Long (MO-07). "This facility is critical to the community and a flood wall will ensure that businesses and residents will not be disrupted should substantial flooding occur."

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) which EDA funds. SMCOG brings 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://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.