U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, has announced a $1.8 million grant awarded from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to The Split Second Foundation Inc. in New Orleans, Louisiana. The funding will be used for infrastructure enhancements to support workforce development initiatives.
The grant will be applied towards the renovation of an existing commercial space for the Center for Health and Job Development. This center is intended to provide care for individuals with disabilities and offer workforce training in healthcare and rehabilitative career fields. An additional $450,000 in local funds will match the EDA investment, with an expected outcome of creating or retaining 300 jobs, based on grantee estimates.
Secretary Raimondo emphasized the centrality of America’s workforce as a source of innovation and competitiveness. She highlighted the grant’s role in supporting training for historically underserved communities and its contribution to job creation, which will enhance the dynamism of New Orleans’ regional economy.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, echoed Raimondo’s sentiments, emphasizing the EDA’s commitment to supporting local communities in fostering economic growth. She expressed confidence that the investment in The Split Second Foundation will bolster healthcare services while fostering job creation, thereby enhancing the region’s economic resilience.
Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02) lauded the investment for facilitating critical infrastructure improvements and healthcare workforce training in Louisiana. He viewed the initiative as a representation of commitment to equitable economic growth and a transformative investment in New Orleans’ future.
The project is financed under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, providing EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts in areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of various natural disasters in 2021 and 2022.
