Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $30 million to support 35 projects in 15 states under the 2017 Assistance to Coal Communities https://www.eda.gov/coal/ (ACC 2017) initiative. The funding will assist locally-driven efforts to communities and regions severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development and re-employment opportunities.
“From his first days in office, President Trump ended the Federal government’s assault on the coal industry and the communities who rely on it,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The previous administration fought this war through unilateral executive actions and regulatory edicts, and the casualties were American workers and families.”
The President’s work has had tangible effects for millions of Americans; for the first time in six years a new coal mine opened in the United States in June while thousands of jobs have been added in the coal sector since the start of 2017. The funding announced today is one facet of a continuing, government-wide effort to deliver a better deal for coal country.
The investment for Utah was announced today:
• 800,000 to *FutureINDesign, Inc., Woods Cross*, to support the startup costs and operations of The Innovation and Opportunity Center (Center), located in Price. FutureINDesign will oversee the operations of the facility and promote the Center to attract employers by offering ready-made solutions in office suites, complete workstations and warehousing.
“The grant administrator is FutureInDesign with Carbon and Emery Counties as supportive government agencies. Once the JC Penney Building build-out is complete, FutureInDesign will begin leasing the building to various companies. Training for youth and adults will start approximately the same time,” stated Tami Ursenbach, Director of Carbon County Economic Development. “The following companies have agreed to be tenants of the building to include: FutureInDesign, Accelerant Business Solution Providers, Blacksmith International, LLC, HealthEquity, Elevate 11, and Marketing Elevated. Utah is one of the few states that received the grant for Coal Reliant Communities.” If you have any questions concerning the grant, you can contact Nicholina Womack at nicholinaw@futureindesign.org (801) 755-0989 or Tami Ursenbach at (435) 636-3294 tami.ursenbach@carbon.utah.gov