Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) had awarded a $1.2 million grant to the Town of Erwin. These grant funds will be used expand existing wastewater treatment to safely and reliably support job creation and private investment in Erwin. This EDA grant, to be matched with $639,789 in local dollars, is expected to create 75 jobs, retain 40 jobs, and generate $7 million in private investment. Between EDA and local match dollars, the entire project exceeds $1.2 million.
The grant, written by the staff of the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD), is representative of the District’s work in local communities since 1965. "EDA is a wonderful partner encouraging job growth and private investment throughout the State of Tennessee, and more specifically, Northeast Tennessee. The recently funded Erwin Utilities grant will improve the existing wastewater infrastructure in order to assist PlastiExports with a planned expansion and investment that will have a positive impact" said Bill Forrester, Director of Community Planning, Housing & Development.
The FTDD has long utilized EDA funds, on behalf of communities, to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and assist in the creation of jobs. This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) program, which assists communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
For more information on the U.S. Economic Development Administration, visit www.eda.gov.
For questions related to this grant program or this specific project, please contact Bill Forrester, bforrester@ftdd.org