Press Releases

Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
Friday, August 31, 2012

U.S. Commerce Department Invests $1 Million to Help Local Businesses and Workers Following Flooding in Yucaipa, California

WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the city of Yucaipa, California, to make flood control and street improvements in the Dunlap Industrial Corridor. This investment will help to mitigate the economic struggles facing businesses and workers as a result of flooding that took place in 2010 and 2011. The project is expected to create 769 jobs and generate more than $31 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

"This $1 million in EDA investments in California is an example of the Obama administration's commitment to helping communities impacted by natural disaster rebuild and recover," said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Blank. "The grant announced today will help to address the economic hardships facing businesses and workers from the cumulative flooding in the Dunlap Industrial Corridor and help Yucaipa attract new businesses and create jobs in the region."

The Yucaipa project is part of a $200 million appropriation made by Congress to EDA to help communities that received a major disaster designation in fiscal year 2011 with long-term economic recovery and infrastructure support. Within the context of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), EDA serves as the Coordinating Agency on behalf of the Department of Commerce for the Economic Recovery Support Function (RSF) to coordinate the activities of a diverse group of partner agencies supporting recovery in disaster-impacted communities.

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.