Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $708,640 grant to the Cambria Somerset Authority, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for water infrastructure and roadway repairs.
This project will support local job recruitment and retention efforts by providing the critical infrastructure the local business community needs to stabilize and grow following the failure of the existing waterline. This EDA grant will be matched with $708,640 in local funds and is expected to help create or retain more than 350 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support local efforts to provide economic security for local businesses while creating new opportunities and jobs,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will allow the region to continue to diversify its economy by providing the modern infrastructure needed to attract new business ventures while supporting the expansion plans of established businesses.”
“I’m thrilled to see this investment in the Johnstown community that will ensure a bright future for both local residents and the local economy,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “Hyper-local investments like this one are the building blocks of success for the commonwealth and our nation as a whole. This is how you rebuild the strength of a nation, one community at a time.”
“This Economic Development Grant is another positive step towards revitalizing and strengthening our Johnstown community,” said Congressman John Joyce (PA-13). “Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible for our community to secure this grant, and special thanks to those community leaders who are working tirelessly to make Johnstown a hub of economic activity in Western Pennsylvania.”
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.
This award is a great example of what communities can do under EDA’s new American Rescue Plan programs; particularly the $300 million Coal Communities Commitment. This investment will ensure that coal communities have the resources they need to recover from the pandemic and will help create new jobs and opportunities, including through the development or expansion of a new industry sector.
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.