Volume 1; Issue 8 

EDA Plays Vital Role in Post–Disaster Long–Term Economic Recovery 

Natural disasters over the last several months prompted Congress to appropriate 

$100 million to EDA through its Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (as part 

of the $2.65 billion FY 2008 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act). 

Communities that received a federal Presidential disaster declaration starting 

January 1, 2008, and continuing through incident periods occurring until June 30, 

2008, are eligible for funding. The funding supports the development and 

implementation of long–term, regionally–based economic redevelopment 

strategies. EDA’s six regional offices, located in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, 

Philadelphia, and Seattle, will administer these disaster assistance grants. 

EDA is the primary Department of Commerce bureau to assist with post–disaster 

economic recovery – although it does not have "first responder" duties or 

capabilities. In disaster situations, EDA typically offers four services: 

1. Economic Impact Assessment: EDA assists the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) through a mission assignment protocol to help 

evaluate the economic impact of the disaster. 

2. Strategic Planning: EDA offers financial resources and technical assistance 

to help regions to organize, develop and implement a recovery strategy 

following a disaster. 

3. Infrastructure Development: EDA offers grant funds to build new 

infrastructure (e.g. business incubators, technology parks, research 

facilities, basic utilities such as water treatment) to retain or attract jobs to 

the region. NOTE: EDA cannot rebuild existing public infrastructure 

damaged during the disaster; that is FEMA’s responsibility. 

4. Business Loans: Through EDA’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program, non–

profit and governmental entities can apply to establish an RLF which in turn 

makes below market–rate loans to businesses to help recovery. 

When responding to the needs of communities with sudden and severe economic 

distress, EDA has focused on assisting state and local interests in designing and 

implementing strategies to adjust and rebuild the economic infrastructure. EDA 

stresses that planning and implementation should take place and be driven at the 

local level where needs are best analyzed and met. 

A portion of the supplemental funds have already been put to immediate use. 

Recent grants include: 

z a $3 million investment to Iowa for statewide economic planning, which will 

create a blueprint for recovery; 

z a $250,000 grant to the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services to 

develop a study of sustainable economic recovery in the event of future 

natural disasters; 

z a $250,000 investment to Maine to develop a business–focused disaster 

mitigation and recovery plan; 

z funds dedicated to both Missouri (over $780,000) and Nebraska ($500,000) 

to develop natural disaster recovery strategies; 

z providing $800,000 to Wisconsin to facilitate disaster recovery efforts in 

several counties in southern and southeastern Wisconsin that flooded over 

this past summer; 

z funding for Indiana and Illinois, $400,000 and $500,000 respectively, to 

develop a flood recovery strategy; and, 

z a $300,000 grant to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and 

the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at 

Little Rockfor economic recovery efforts in the 62 counties that suffered 

flood and tornado damage resulting from the 2008 natural disasters. 

By providing timely disaster recovery assistance, in support of long–term state and

Click SUBSCRIBE to Learn 

about other Exciting EDA 

News 

APA’s Economic Development 

Toolbox Part Seven: Economic 

Development Indicators 

Economic development indicators can 

be a valuable tool for developers and 

communities if they are carefully 

developed and presented in a manner 

that is easily understood. In the 

APA's Toolbox, 

http://www.planning.org/eda/#7, 

key criteria for selecting indicators 

such as validity; relevance; 

consistency and reliability: 

measurability; clarity; 

comprehensiveness; cost–

effectiveness; and attractiveness to 

the media are presented. 

Understanding how the indicators can 

best be used also helps a community 

and region better realize its economic 

development vision. The Toolbox also 

lays out how to make this 

determination and is a useful guide to 

help practitioners make the most of 

the data they collect and present, to 

support their activities and goals. 

Coming Soon! 

October 19–20, 2008 

APA’s 2008 Federal Policy & Program 

Briefing, Washington, DC 

[Website] 

October 19–22, 2008 

IEDC 2008 Annual Conference, 

Atlanta [Website] 

November 17–23, 2008 

Global Entrepreneurship Week 

[Website] 

EDA’s Reauthorization 

EDA is pleased to announce that the 

Department of Commerce submitted 

to Congress a legislative proposal to 

reauthorize EDA for five years. EDA’s 

current authorization expires 
local economic development needs, EDA is bolstering the economic viability and 

competitiveness of America’s regions in today’s worldwide marketplace. 

To learn more about the Supplemental Appropriations Disaster Relief Opportunity, 

please visit www.eda.gov. 

Louisiana receives over $9 million from EDA 

As part of its ongoing commitment to promote economic recovery post–disaster, 

EDA awarded over $9 million in the state of Louisiana. Towns, cities, foundations 

and associations will receive technical assistance targeted to the areas affected by 

Hurricane Gustav. 

The funds are being utilized for economic development planning, infrastructure 

improvements and business loans across the state. 

Specific investments include: 

z $2.5 million to the State of Louisiana Economic Development to provide a 

variety of services and activities to restore commerce and quality of life to 

pre–disaster levels; 

z $1.5 million to the Town of Rayville for road infrastructure; 

z $1.2 million to the Greater Ouachita Port Commission for port 

infrastructure; 

z $1 million to the Saint Bernard Port Commission for port infrastructure; 

z $700,000 to the Terrebonne Parish Port Commission for port infrastructure; 

z $500,000 to the Acadiana Regional Development District for Revolving Loan 

Fund recapitalization; 

z $460,000 to the Regional Business Development Loan Corporation for 

Revolving Loan Fund recapitalization; 

z $450,000 to the International Economic Development Council for technical 

assistance; 

z $303,500 to the Regional Planning Commission for disaster recovery; 

z $250,000 to the Tri–District Planning & Development District for Revolving 

Loan Fund recapitalization; 

z $250,000 to the UNO Foundation for university research and technology 

park planning; and 

z $200,000 to the Louisiana Association of Planning & Development Districts 

for rural economic development assistance. 

These investments are similar to many EDA has made throughout the years for the

support of post–disaster economic recovery efforts. While EDA is not a first 

responder, it has played an active role in strengthening economies affected by 

disasters such as the Midwest floods in 1993 and 1997, as well as Hurricane Floyd 

(2000), the Florida hurricanes in 2004, and the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. 

These investments continue to solidify EDA’s role in building sustainable economies

that enhance innovation, competitiveness and provide higher–wage, higher–skill 

jobs across the United States. 

Promoting Sources of Growth : The Appalachian Regional Commission 

(ARC) 

The 200,000–square mile Appalachia region spans across 13 states with 

approximately 23 million people. This unique geographic area – nearly 50 percent 

rural — brings unique challenges in terms of economic development and 

sustainability. 

The ARC, a federal–state partnership, promotes self–sustaining economic 

development and quality of life opportunities for the people of the region through 

collaboration and partnerships. These partnerships create thousands of new jobs, 

improve local water and sewer systems, increase school readiness, expand access 

to health care, assist local communities with strategic planning, and provide 

technical, managerial, and marketing assistance to emerging new businesses. EDA 

and ARC have a longstanding partnership in assisting rural communities prepare 

for economic growth in the 21 st century. 

September 30, 2008. The proposed 

reauthorization legislation is good 

news for the economic development 

community because it includes new 

provisions that offer investment 

recipients more local control over 

revolving loan funds and construction 

grants. These provisions demonstrate 

how EDA is listening to, and acting 

upon, the economic development 

community’s calls for improved EDA’s 

programs to meet the changing 

needs of the 21st century economy. 

Please monitor www.eda.gov for 

more information as this legislation 

progresses through Congress. 
ARC has two distinct programs – the Area Development Program and the Highway 

Program. Through these two initiatives ARC funds hundreds of projects that 

address the four primary goals identified in its 2005–2010 Strategic Plan: 

1. Increasing job opportunities and per capita income in Appalachia to reach 

parity with the nation; 

2. Strengthening the capacity of the people of Appalachia to compete in the 

worldwide economy; 

3. Developing and improving Appalachia’s infrastructure to make the region 

economically competitive; and 

4. Building the Appalachian Development Highway System to reduce 

Appalachia’s isolation. 

Highway Program: 

ARC’s Highway Program focuses on the completion of the Appalachian 

Development Highway System (ADHS) which was authorized by Congress in the 

Appalachian Development Act of 1965. The ADHS was designed to: 

z Generate economic development in previously isolated areas; 

z Supplement the interstate system and connect Appalachia to the interstate 

system; and 

z Provide access to areas within the region as well as to markets in the rest of

the nation. 

Area Development Program: 

The Area Development Program is focused on bringing Appalachia’s people in top 

America’s economic mainstream. This program focuses on three key areas: 

z Promoting a diversified regional economy through strategies that help 

communities create and retain businesses and jobs; 

z Helping communities develop an educated, skilled workforce and create 

access to affordable, quality health care; and 

z Supporting the development and improvement of infrastructure, including 

water and sewer services, and the development and use of Internet access. 

For more information about the ARC or to view their grant opportunities, please 

visit www.arc.gov. 

 

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