The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded a $3.6 Million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to nine organizations across Indiana to update economic development plans and bolster programs focused on assisting communities respond to COVID-19, according to a press release by the EDA.
“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Indiana with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”
“These funds will help Hoosiers throughout Indiana respond to the unique needs of their communities,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the press release. “I appreciate our federal partners’ commitment to supporting the programs and resources needed for us to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic stronger than ever.”
Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission, Ferdinand, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to developing strategies to become more resilient to the pandemic; enhancing the region’s public infrastructure; implementing strategies to grow the critical manufacturing, forestry and wood products, advanced materials, transportation equipment, tourism and agricultural sectors; hiring additional staff; and supporting workforce needs.
Michiana Area Council of Governments, South Bend, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to enhance its technical assistance capabilities and organizational capacities to continue to be a valuable regional resource for aiding recovery and resiliency efforts.
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Portage, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to develop an economic resiliency plan to address short-term and long-term economic development impacts and aid in economic recovery for future pandemics and disasters; hiring staff to provide capacity-building and technical assistance to local communities for recovery and resiliency; helping Northwest Indiana continue to be a talent-attractor in the Chicago regional economy.
River Hills Economic Development Corporation, Jeffersonville, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to increase their capacity to assist their local communities with large job-creating initiatives; developing both a disaster preparedness plan for future pandemics and a marketing plan to help stimulate the current and future growth of the region.
Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Versailles, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to develop an economic resilience and response plan, building staff and organizational capacity, and implementing response programs.
Southern Indiana Development Commission, Loogootee, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to implement resiliency strategies that support local business and grow the needed infrastructure to assure entrepreneurship can thrive in rural Indiana.
West Central Indiana Economic Development District, Terre Haute, Indiana, will receive $400,000 to formulate and enact strategies to help the business sectors recover from the effects of the pandemic while supporting the needs of the region’s workforce.
Region III-A Development & Regional Planning Commission, Kendallville, Indiana, will receive $396,800 to hire staff to assist communities with grant applications, focusing on addressing unemployment, and providing funds to assist small, locally-owned businesses with their e-commerce efforts.
Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, Monon, Indiana, will receive $377,424 to create a recovery and resiliency plan; conduct a tourism study; and provide technical assistance to local agencies and other development assistance.
These organizations are some of the more than 850 grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the CARES Act.