Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alejandra Y. Castillo carries out the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration’s mandate to steer the federal economic development strategy.
She does this through promoting economic growth in groups that have historically received less attention, particularly Tribal communities, according to a Nov. 9 EDA news release.
“After decades of disinvestment, our tribal communities were dealt additional economic hardships as a result of the coronavirus pandemic,” Castillo said, according to the release. “In response, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and its Indigenous Communities program allocated $100 million specifically to help Tribal communities recover and rebuild.”
Castillo strives to expand tribal engagement and supports equity throughout all EDA initiatives, including its regular funding options, the release reported. The EDA increased its chances of being successful by widening tribal eligibility to include for-profit organizations that are entirely owned and run by tribes, through a revision of its regulations in 2021.
Castillo's desire for economic growth came at a young age. Her parents were Dominican Republic natives who immigrated to the United States in search of the American dream, according to the release. She was the first person in her family to learn English as a child, and she frequently acted as the family’s “problem solver” and as a link between two groups. She said she is honored to hold the position of assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development today, becoming the first woman of color to hold the position.
