Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.6 million grant to Georgetown County, South Carolina, for infrastructure improvements to support business growth and job creation.
This project will provide site upgrades at Georgetown County Airport necessary for the development of two commercial hangars, including updated water and sewer lines and a new taxiway, as well as engineering design services. This EDA investment will be matched with $881,548 in state and local funds and is expected to help generate $8 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in Georgetown County and communities across the country, to create jobs and increase economic opportunity,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment in particular will help bolster the local aeronautics industry, catalyzing new commercial opportunities and job growth.”
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Georgetown County as it works to create new economic opportunities and jobs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The construction supported by this EDA investment will allow an aviation services firm to locate at Georgetown County Airport, creating good-paying, quality jobs in the region.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments (WRCOG). EDA funds WRCOG 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) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects 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 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.