Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $587,200 grant to the city of Blackfoot, Idaho, to help protect local businesses from the impact of natural disasters by advancing the city’s West Bridge Street bridge replacement project. The EDA grant will be matched with $146,800 in state and local investment.
“The Trump Administration is working diligently to help communities improve infrastructure in support of business retention and growth,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “The West Bridge Street bridge replacement project will help to ensure that businesses continue running during adverse weather events and attract new employers to the region.”
The project supports the completion of engineering and design plans needed to replace the bridge structure. The improvements will lead to the development of infrastructure that will contribute to the resilience of the regional economy in the aftermath of future disasters and strengthen the regional transportation system.
This project is funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) (PDF) (PDF), in which Congress appropriated to EDA $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, wildfires, and other calendar year 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.
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.