Lucas applauds U.S. Department of Commerce $2M investment

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the City of Woodward, Oklahoma to make building renovations at the Woodward Industrial Airpark:

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally-driven strategies that strengthen regional economies, create job growth, and increase business development throughout our local communities,” said Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03). “I thank Secretary Wilbur Ross and the EDA for their $2 million investment to help support Woodward’s businesses following the 2018 fires. Western Oklahoma is no stranger to fires and other natural disasters, and today’s investment will help Woodward’s businesses expand and continue to rebuild.”

The EDA grant will be matched with more than $1.2 million in local investment.

“The Trump Administration understands that reliable and modern facilities are essential to business development and success,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This project will provide necessary building improvements to spur business growth at Woodward’s Industrial AirPark to make the region’s economy more resilient in the face of future natural disasters.”

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support Woodward’s strategy to maximize use of its Industrial AirPark,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This project will open a 124,000 square foot industrial facility within the AirPark to new and expanding companies, creating economic opportunities for Woodward and mitigating regional impacts of the 2018 wildfires.”

“This $2 million EDA grant awarded to the city of Woodward is welcome news,” said Senator Jim Inhofe. “This funding will allow for needed building renovations at the Woodward Industrial Airpark. We know that airports are economic hubs for communities, and this investment will spur economic activity and job growth in the area. I am proud this federal investment is being met with $1.2 million in local investment.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Oklahoma Economic Development Authority (OEDA), which EDA funds 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.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.