Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the Collin County Community College District in Plano, Texas, for building infrastructure improvements to support healthcare workforce training.
This grant will support the construction of a new health care and instruction facility, preparing students for local, in-demand jobs. This EDA investment will be matched with $500,000 in local funds and is expected to create 4,000 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
“President Biden has taken decisive action to make robust investments in our infrastructure and workers,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This vital EDA investment in Texas will support healthcare workforce development that enables job creation and economic growth, and saves lives.”
“The Economic Development Administration works closely with communities to support locally driven disaster recovery and resiliency efforts,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This investment in Plano will strengthen the regional healthcare workforce, creating new job opportunities for Texans and supporting a resilient regional economy.”
“As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, it is crucial that Texas continues to bolster our healthcare workforce to ensure we meet the healthcare needs of all Texans,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “I thank the Economic Development Administration for this grant to build a new healthcare facility, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and helping students in Collin County obtain the skills and training they need to succeed in Texas’ healthcare industry. By strengthening our healthcare workforce, we will build a bigger, better Texas for generations to come.”
“By investing in leading-edge health care infrastructure, we are boosting workforce development programs that help skilled employees secure well-paying jobs,” said Senator John Cornyn. “This award will give Collin College in Plano the opportunity to help expand health care workforce development opportunities in North Texas, and I look forward to seeing the impact it has on the local economy.”
This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.
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 invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.