Rural California Benefits from the Economic Development Agency

Earlier this month, the Economic Development Agency (EDA) granted Mendocino County $397,180 to assist recovery efforts in the wake of the Redwood Valley Fire, and Santa Rosa $800,000 to support business growth in wildfire impacted areas.  Housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA is tasked with working with state and local governments to spur economic growth and job creation.  Grants to Mendocino County and Santa Rosa are the latest examples of EDA investment in rural California.  

Despite critical investments in rural counties, particularly those recovering from recent wildfires, the Trump Administration proposed to eliminate the EDA in its budget request for Fiscal Year 2020.  Democrats in the House will block the President’s budget request in Congress and negotiate with Republicans over the final budget for months.  It is critical that Congress fully funds the EDA and provide financial certainty for rural counties.