The Port of Skagit County in Washington will receive a $2.2 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration.
The grant will fund infrastructure upgrades and site development to support the expansion of the local manufacturing sector, according to a Sept. 30 Commerce Department news release.
“President Biden is committed to unleashing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from the pandemic but builds back stronger,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release. “This EDA investment will provide capacity for the expansion of the manufacturing industry in Sedro-Woolley, broadening and strengthening the regional economy.”
The EDA supports community-led economic development strategies through investment in the manufacturing industry, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo said, according to the release. This important role will boost coronavirus recovery and response efforts. The grant will enable the growth of innovative local manufacturers by providing a facility and the critical infrastructure required to support it.
According to the release, Sen. Patty Murray said she included these grants in the bipartisan CARES Act to upgrade the local economy’s cornerstone — the Port of Skagit County. More goods will be manufactured in Washington state with the upgrades to support new businesses, she said, and will create almost 1,000 new jobs for workers in Sedro-Woolley.
“This will make a huge difference in Skagit County and help the port, businesses and working families thrive,” Murray said in the release. “I’m proud to bring home critical investment like this one, and I’ll keep fighting to deliver for Washington state communities.”
