The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is set to award a $3.5 million grant to Copperas Cove, Texas for water, sewage, and roadway infrastructure improvements, as announced today by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The grant aims to foster semiconductor business growth by developing industrial sites.
The EDA’s investment will be matched with $875,000 in local funds. It is projected to create 15 jobs and generate $130 million in private investment according to grantee estimates. The investment will support the production of microprocessors and computer chips for the domestic market, aiding in regional economic growth and stimulating private investment in the local industry.
“President Biden is committed to ensuring that the United States is a leader in manufacturing and he is delivering on that promise with announcements like this one”, said Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo. “This EDA investment will provide the infrastructure to support microprocessor and computer chip production for the domestic market, boosting the regional economy and spurring private investment in the local industry.”
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, added, “The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic growth. This investment in the city of Copperas Cove will attract new businesses supporting the region’s semiconductor industry, creating jobs for residents and developing a robust regional economy that strengthens the nation’s technological leadership.”
Texas is the top state for semiconductor manufacturing. “Through our continued investments in critical infrastructure, we will ensure that our great state continues to lead in the semiconductor industry for years to come,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “I thank the Economic Development Administration for this grant to help improve the infrastructure in Copperas Cove and support ongoing growth in our semiconductor industry.”
The project was made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Development District of Central Texas (DDCT). The EDA funds DDCT to collaborate with the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to reinforce the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
The project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided the EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery in areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022.
