U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $10 Million in Disaster Supplemental Funding to Support Economic Development Projects in Georgia and Kentucky

WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is announcing $10 million in Disaster Supplemental funding awards to Georgia and Kentucky, which were impacted by storms and natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.

The EDA awards announced today are:

• Augusta Technical College Foundation, Inc. in Augusta, Georgia, received a $6.8 million grant for construction of an automotive workforce training facility.
• Lebanon, Kentucky received a $2 million grant for water infrastructure improvements to support local business expansion.
• Columbia, Kentucky received a $1.2 million grant for natural gas infrastructure improvements to support local business growth.

"The Economic Development Administration is committed to revitalizing America's competitive spirit," said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Ben Page, performing the nonexclusive duties and functions of the Assistant Secretary. "These projects will do just that - upskilling the American workforce in high-tech, automotive manufacturing and providing businesses with the infrastructure they need for growth and job creation."

The EDA Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program makes approximately $1.5 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. EDA continues to review applications for portions of this funding on an ongoing basis - please review the application guidelines at eda.gov for more details.

EDA releases announcements for grants over $1 million. For more information on all EDA awards, please visit eda.gov.

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.