Shaheen announces nearly $124K in CARES Act funding from EDA to Nashua Regional Planning Commission to update economic development strategy for the city and southern tier
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award the Nashua Regional Planning Commission $123,935 through funding allocated by the CARES Act to help the organization update its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region. Senator Shaheen helped to secure these funds through her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
A CEDS serves as an economic blueprint for an area, allowing organizations like the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, one of New Hampshire’s nine regional planning commissions, to build business capacity and foster economic development. By helping to engage community leaders and promote cooperation between local governments and businesses, an updated CEDS will serve as the foundation for Nashua and the Southern Tier’s economic growth and prosperity in the coming years, which is particularly important as local communities continue to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As Nashua and Southern Tier communities and businesses continue to grapple with the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial that they receive the resources and support they need to recover,” said Shaheen. “The Nashua Regional Planning Commission plays a key role in this effort, and by allowing the organization to update its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, these funds will serve as a catalyst for future economic growth and prosperity in the region and help local businesses and communities recover from this crisis. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue to fight to secure the federal resources New Hampshire needs to thrive.”
The mission of EDA is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA 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. During federal budget negotiations, Shaheen led successful efforts to prevent the EDA – the agency administering this grant – from being eliminated.
