U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced a grant of $1.3 million to the city of Seminole, Oklahoma from the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant is intended to support workforce development and business growth in the aviation industry.
The $1.3 million grant will go towards the construction of an Aviation Education Center and other associated transportation and parking facilities at the Seminole Airport Industrial Park. The EDA’s investment will be combined with $325,593 in local funds. According to the estimates provided by the grantee, this investment is expected to either create or retain 185 jobs, while also generating $2.8 million in private investment.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the importance of the grant in the context of President Biden’s Investing In America agenda. She highlighted the role of America’s workers as the source of the country’s innovation and competitiveness. It is believed that by supporting the development of the aviation and aerospace workforce, the grant will foster business growth, increase investments, and lead to a stronger, more dynamic regional economy.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, also underscored the value of the investment in Seminole. She expressed that the EDA works closely with local communities to promote place-based economic growth. This investment, she said, will produce a skilled aerospace workforce and support existing businesses at the Seminole Airport Industrial Park, creating jobs and allowing more opportunities, goods, and services to move throughout the region.
