The Coahoma County Board of Supervisors has been granted $2.1 million by the federal government to support future economic development in the region.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Tuesday announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding the funds for roadway and water infrastructure improvements to support manufacturing and job growth.
This grant will enhance the local boat manufacturing sector, creating jobs and opportunities in the area. The EDA’s investment will be matched with $2.5 million in state and local funds and is expected to create 56 jobs and generate $8.3 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
“This grant highlights the power of collaborative partnerships and shows our joint commitment to improving infrastructure and creating jobs in Clarksdale and the broader Mississippi Delta region,” Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said. “Making real progress that offers valuable opportunities for our constituents is deeply satisfying, driving us towards building stronger, more successful communities.”
The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Delta Planning and Development District. EDA funds NDPDD to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs for those in the region.
This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for 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.
