U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $196 million in American Rescue Plan State Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation grants to 24 states and territories. Last month, 34 states and the District of Columbia received a total of $314 million as part of the first batch of awards.
The funds are part of EDA’s $750 million American Rescue Plan program, which includes $510 million in State Tourism grants. These investments will support marketing, infrastructure, workforce, and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business, and international travel.
The EDA plays a critical role in facilitating regional economic development efforts in communities across the nation. It is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the agency makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
Projects vary in scope based on locally driven needs. Alabama was awarded $3,689,493 in funding.
“Rebuilding the travel and tourism industry is a key component of the Biden Administration’s plan to build back better and restore the competitiveness of the United States on the global stage,” stated Raimondo. “The State Tourism grants give states and territories the flexible opportunity to boost their local tourism industry and ensure that jobs are restored and tourists return safely.”
“The coronavirus pandemic devasted the travel and tourism industry – the linchpin of many local economies across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo. “EDA is proud to give state and territory leaders the resources to build back better through locally-led strategies that uniquely address the challenges and opportunities of their state’s travel tourism and outdoor recreation industry.”
The following states and territories were awarded grants today:
- Alabama
- American Samoa
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Republic of Palau
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Virginia
- West Virginia
