ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION 

AWARDS $3 BILLION IN FUNDING

S

ince President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law in March 2021, the 

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has invested $3 billion1 in supplemental 

funding across all states and territories through six innovative programs. Taken together, 

the investments made through these programs will build more equitable, competitive and 

resilient local economies. The EDA American Rescue Plan investments include 780 awards across 

433 unique counties to projects ranging from supporting core enabling infrastructure to planning 

and workforce development to entrepreneurship to transforming regional economic clusters. Each 

of EDA’s six American Rescue Plan programs were designed to prioritize equity, and as a result, 

over 70% of all competitive award funds are expected to directly benefit historically underserved 

communities and populations. This federal funding is expected to generate more than $20 billion 

of private investment and to create, save 

or place 220,000 jobs, according to grantee 

estimates. This collection of public 

investments demonstrates EDA’s ability 

to support regional economies through 

locally driven programs that invest in 

people, position communities for long-term 

growth and catalyze strategic industries, 

thereby building a better America.

 1 EDA was allocated $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding, of which, $2.94 billion devoted to programs and $60 million 

set aside by Congress for the administration of the program.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FACT SHEET

Each of EDA’s six American Rescue 

Plan programs were designed to 

prioritize equity, and as a result, 

over 70% of all competitive award 

funds are expected to directly benefit 

historically underserved communities 

and populations.

U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FACT SHEET 2

THE EDA AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PROGRAM INCLUDES

$1 Billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge makes major investments 

of $25 to $65 million in 21 regional coalitions (3-8 interconnected 

component projects per coalition) that will enable emerging industries to 

grow in regional economies, transform local communities, enhance U.S. 

competitiveness and create thousands of good jobs in the process.

$500 Million Good Jobs Challenge supports 32 awardees with significant 

grants (average of $15.6 million per awardee) to develop and grow workercentered, industry-led workforce training systems, placing over 50,000 

American workers into quality jobs and supporting regional economies with 

the skilled, diverse workforce necessary to compete in the 21st Century.

$500 Million Economic Adjustment Assistance program invests in 256 

diverse projects—including but not limited to enabling infrastructure, 

workforce development, business facilities and planning grants—addressing 

the economic development needs of communities today while preparing 

them for the future.

$100 Million Indigenous Communities program closes opportunity 

gaps and fosters economic mobility and resiliency through 51 diverse 

awards whose activities are similar to Economic Adjustment Assistance 

projects but specifically support Indigenous communities across the 

country. Across all six American Rescue Plan programs, inclusive of the 

Indigenous Communities program, EDA awarded a total of 127 grants 

totaling $448 million.

$750 Million Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program supports 

communities across the country whose economies were hard hit by damage 

to the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors from the COVID-19 

pandemic through $240 million across 126 competitive awards, as well as 

$510 million in awards directly to each of the 59 U.S. states and territories. 

Award activities range from building new tourist attractions (museums, 

event venues, hiking trails, campgrounds, etc.), developing tourism-related 

economic plans and supporting workforce training in the tourism sector. 

$90 Million Statewide Planning, Research and Networks program 

includes $1 million awards to each of the 59 U.S. states and territories to 

help them prepare for a more resilient economic future. This program 

also provided $31 million through 14 awards to enable real-time research 

and evaluation for EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs and to provide 

peer-to-peer learning, training and coaching to EDA American Rescue 

Plan awardees. 

Additionally, through its Coal Communities Commitment, EDA allocated 

$300 million to invest in American coal communities as they recover from 

the pandemic. The funding for this commitment came from the American 

Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program ($200 million) and 

the Build Back Better Regional Challenge ($100 million). As a result of robust 

demand, EDA has significantly exceeded this commitment, allocating 

$551.8 million of funding to coal communities across its 6 American Rescue 

Plan programs. This funding includes $208.3 million and 89 projects from 

EAA and $242.9 million across nine BBBRC phase 1 awards and five BBBRC 

winners in Alaska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

Another $100.6 million from EDA’s other American Rescue Plan programs is 

invested in or benefits coal communities. 

 2 Funding amounts below will not add up to $2.94 billion exactly due to rounding 

and split-funded projects.

The 780 American Rescue 

Plan awards include:2

• 113 awards ($876 million) to 

provide workers with the 

skills and supports needed to 

secure high-quality jobs and 

to build facilities to support 

that training

• 59 awards ($510 million) to 

directly support states and 

territories with the recovery 

of their tourism sectors 

• 153 awards ($416 million) to 

build enabling infrastructure 

that create the conditions 

for businesses to succeed

• 38 awards ($315 million) 

to accelerate innovation in 

emerging technologies

• 239 awards ($222 million)

for communities to engage 

in planning and receive the 

technical assistance needed 

to recover from the pandemic 

and build a more resilient 

economic future

• 46 awards ($176 million) to 

build new business facilities or 

provide equipment that enables 

commercial growth

• 73 awards ($171 million) 

to build or upgrade tourist 

attractions—such as museums, 

event venues and hiking trails—

that will attract visitors and 

commercial activity to American 

communities 

• 30 awards ($126 million) to 

support business incubation 

and entrepreneurship 

• 16 awards ($93 million) to 

strengthen U.S. supply chains 

by helping small and mid-sized 

businesses adopt new processes 

and enter new markets

• 13 awards ($45 million) to 

provide access to capital to 

enable small businesses to grow

Additionally, within the portfolio 

of investments described above, 

approximately 151 awards 

representing $739 million in 

funding will go towards projects 

that advance American 

manufacturing. And approximately 

96 awards representing $543.7 

million in funding will go to projects 

that combat the climate crisis. 
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FACT SHEET 3

CORE THEMES

American Economic Competitiveness

Through strategically aligned place-based 

investments and partnerships, EDA is 

strengthening U.S. regional and global 

competitiveness. With projects that span 

helping to incubate new businesses and expand 

entrepreneurial activity to those that generate 

research and innovation, these investments are 

creating the conditions for high-wage, 

high-growth businesses to thrive in regions 

outside of historic innovation hubs.

In Kentucky, the University of Pikeville is constructing the University of 

Pikeville Ag-Tech Innovation Center of Excellence. This research and education 

center will include a greenhouse, classroom space, a laboratory and offices 

to help eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia cement their competitive edge 

in agriculture and support the transition to next-generation agriculture. 

ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, COAL COMMUNITIES COMMITMENT| $4.4 MILLION

In Kansas, the South Kansas Coalition, led by Wichita State University, is 

strengthening America’s global advantage in the aerospace sector. With aircraft 

production expected to double in the next two decades, this project is bringing 

together leading academic institutions, employers and public sector actors 

to support small and medium-sized manufacturers, advance cutting-edge 

manufacturing methods and train workers on new technologies and secure 

good jobs in the process. 

BUILD BACK BETTER REGIONAL CHALLENGE | $51.4 MILLION

In North Carolina and Virginia, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council is 

training local residents to work in the growing blue economy, clean energy and 

cybersecurity sectors. With support from major employers such as Newport 

News and community-based organizations such as the Urban League, the 

awardee will coordinate key partners and build talent pipelines to support 

these competitive sectors. 

GOOD JOBS CHALLENGE | $11 MILLION

In Wyoming, Laramie County Community College is building an Advanced 

Manufacturing and Materials Center, which will include a Fabrication 

Laboratory and Concept Forge. This project will support the growth of advanced 

manufacturing, a critical pillar of America’s economic competitiveness, by 

enabling domestic workforce training with specialized equipment and supplying 

facilities for local entrepreneurs to engage in prototype development. 

ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE | $2.3 MILLION

People, Communities and Equity

With a focus on equity and providing support 

to historically underserved communities, EDA 

is meeting people and communities where 

they are and preparing them to lead their own 

economic future by driving stronger regional 

economies, supporting small business growth 

and investing in talent development and 

pathways to good jobs. 

In Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, the Mid-South Center for Occupational 

Innovation is leveraging Memphis’s growth as a “hotspot for Black tech talent” 

to create on-ramps into good jobs for diverse populations including workers of 

color in the advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors. 

GOOD JOBS CHALLENGE| $21.5 MILLION

In Illinois, Rend Lake College is developing the Southern Illinois Manufacturing 

Academy to expand advanced manufacturing workforce training opportunities 

for the Southern Illinois community, its workers and businesses, all of which 

have been impacted by the declining use of coal. 

ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, COAL COMMUNITIES COMMITMENT| $5 MILLION

The Lummi Nation is building a critical and long-sought facility for Lummi 

artists, craftspeople, food vendors, florists and other small business owners to 

market their goods. This project will establish a much-needed permanent home 

for Indigenous entrepreneurs and small businesses, allowing a persistent poverty 

county to achieve sustainable visitation and commercial activity. 

TRAVEL, TOURISM & OUTDOOR RECREATION | $4.6 MILLION

In Massachusetts, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is growing its Shellfish Farm 

to ensure its continued participation in the blue economy. The project will 

provide workforce training and other resources to help individuals secure quality 

jobs and to expand the footprint of a small fishing business in a community 

with unmatched expertise in aquaculture. 

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES| $1.1 MILLION
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FACT SHEET 4

For more information about Economic Development Administration’s six American Rescue 

Plan Programs, collectively called Investing in America’s Communities, please click here. 

CORE THEMES

Recovery and Resiliency

EDA is strengthening American supply chains 

and building more diverse and durable regional 

economies. With investments that include 

long-term economic development planning and 

technical assistance, enabling infrastructure and 

extension services for businesses that are critical 

to U.S. supply chains, the American Rescue Plan 

investments are building communities that 

are resilient to future pandemics, economic 

downturns and climate-related shocks.

In California, the Foundation for California Community Colleges is working 

with multiple Minority-Serving Institutions, Indigenous-led partners, and 

leading local employers to train forestry and fire safety professionals. 

Recognizing the impact of wildfires on local economies, this project will work 

to supply talent to protect the region from the natural disasters and other 

effects caused by climate change. 

GOOD JOBS CHALLENGE| $21.5 MILLION

In Nevada, the Walker River Paiute Tribe is improving and expanding water 

system infrastructure. This enabling infrastructure investment will address a 

long-standing need for the community, create more resilient water base and 

ensure businesses have the infrastructure they need to pursue long-term growth. 

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES | $5.2 MILLION

In Virginia, the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) cluster, 

a coalition led by the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership authority 

(Activation Capital), is expanding and making a more robust and resilient 

domestic supply chain for essential medicines and critical active 

pharmaceutical ingredients. 

BUILD BACK BETTER REGIONAL CHALLENGE | $52.9 MILLION

In Utah, the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is designing, building and engineering 

a solar farm and hydroelectric power plant. This project will allow the Tribe 

to become more resilient to changing energy markets, reduce its impact on 

climate change and to build a more diverse local economy. 

ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE | $500,000