The Biden Administration has announced 21 winners of its $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge funded through last year’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Five-year capital grants ranging between $25 million and $65 million were awarded to transformative projects in 24 different states with demonstrated potential to rebuild regional economies, promote inclusive and equitable recovery, and create jobs.
The Brookings Institution today commented that the funding “represents a critical test for key assumptions of the broader Biden administration economic framework” and said it will critically deliver infrastructure investments with a mind for integrating marginalized groups and communities into the post-pandemic economic recovery nationwide. A survey of the projects seems to signal an interest in things like clean energy, advanced and next-gen manufacturing, biotechnologies, and a host of others in line with the new national industry strategy espoused by the President in early April.
“[The] EDA asked communities directly what they needed to attract industry and workers to their region, and these grants are a direct response to their needs,” the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, offered. “Not only will the projects offer clear pathways to good jobs and competitive wages, but they will ensure that economic-based prosperity reaches all pockets of this country.”
The administration shared that there was a particular focus on Tribal coalitions and on the many energy-producing communities coast to coast that are now disadvantaged by recent declines in the use of fossil fuels.
The full list of awarded projects reads as follows:
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