Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that the State of Alabama has received a grant of $1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). These funds, authorized by the American Rescue Plan, will be used for statewide planning efforts to boost economic development, enhance U.S. competitiveness, combat the climate crisis, and recover from the pandemic. These are the first EDA American Rescue Plan grants announced.

“As the only member of the Alabama delegation to vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan, I’m proud that this transformational law continues to deliver critical assistance to the State of Alabama,” said Rep. Sewell. “Today’s $1 million grant will lay the foundation for President Biden’s historic Build Back Better agenda and help Alabamians continue to recover from this pandemic.”

All 59 states and territories were invited to apply for a $1 million grant through EDA’s Statewide Planning program—one of six programs EDA developed to equitably distribute its $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding. 24 grants will be awarded today, with the remainder being disbursed in the coming weeks and months.

“The Biden Administration is giving states and territories the unprecedented opportunity to bring all their communities together to develop comprehensive plans to build back better and stronger,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “The $1 million Statewide Planning grants will be used to lay the groundwork for President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda to build resilient economies and increase U.S. Competitiveness.”

“Planning is the backbone of economic development and Building Back Better,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “EDA is proud to partner with state and territory leaders as they begin to tackle a wide range of challenges—including climate change, broadband, childcare, electric vehicle adoption, and pandemic recovery—and develop a comprehensive plan for their entire state or territory that ensures communities work together toward a common economic development vision for the future.”

For more about EDA’s Statewide Planning grant and other American Rescue Plan programs, please visit: https://www.eda.gov/arpa/.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.