The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, has announced a $6.6 million grant for Halifax County, Virginia, from the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant aims to improve water infrastructure which is essential for economic development and job growth in the county.
The grant funding will enhance water service at the Virginia Motorsport Technology Park, generating employment opportunities in the area. As part of this EDA investment, $1.7 million will be matched with local funds. The grant is expected to create or retain 250 jobs and stimulate $7.8 million in private investment, based on estimates from the grantee.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo stated the EDA investment will equip Halifax County with the resources required to build modern, sustainable infrastructure that supports local businesses and creates quality jobs. She emphasized that the Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the crucial role of infrastructure in creating an economy that benefits all Americans and fosters growth in every community.
The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, explained that the EDA works closely with communities to support recovery and resilience initiatives driven locally. She noted that this will provide crucial infrastructure improvements that will diversify the local economy, ensure its resilience, and create jobs.
Several political figures, including Governor Glenn Youngkin, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, and Representative Bob Good, welcomed the announcement, highlighting the grant’s role in job creation, infrastructure improvements, and fostering economic growth in Halifax County and the wider region.
The project was facilitated by regional planning led by the Southside Planning District Commission (SPDC) and the West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC). These organizations, funded by the EDA, collaborate with public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap designed to strengthen the regional economy, foster private capital investment, and generate jobs.
The grant is part of the funding provided under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. This act provided the EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery in areas that were declared major disaster zones under the Robert T. Stafford Act, due to Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters in 2021 and 2022.
