Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to the town of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to upgrade and improve water infrastructure. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to create 82 jobs, retain 20 jobs and spur $35.1 million in private investment.
“The Trump Administration is revitalizing American manufacturing and is bringing Made in America back,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Following visits by both myself and President Donald J. Trump to White Sulphur Springs, these grants will help build the manufacturing industry and create new jobs.”
“This grant goes to help a project that does so much more than create jobs,” said Senator Capito. “This grant helps provide a brighter future for Greenbrier County. The EDA couldn’t have picked a more worthy recipient. I can’t wait to see the lives changed through this huge project – to rebuild White Sulphur Springs and provide economic stability for years to come.”
This investment will help construct a water line to assist with the development of two facilities; a barrel manufacturing plant and a related lumber mill. In addition, the project will support the local tourism industry by providing the Greenbrier State Forest with a potable water source. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Region IV Economic Development District. EDA funds Region IV 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.
This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) program, through which EDA will award funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
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.