On June 15, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the Garfield County Industrial Park as a recipient of an EDA Grant for $800,000 for infrastructure improvements. The EDA grant will be matched with $225,394 in local funds and is expected to create 30 jobs.
The industrial park is managed by the Garfield County Industrial Authority and is located on Enterprise Drive & 54th Street. There are four businesses currently in the park, including Tyson Foods, Nextlink Internet, Winfield United, and Cogent. The grant funds will be used to construct a new road to Enterprise Drive along with constructing water and wastewater infrastructure.
“Supporting our communities as they work to provide vital infrastructure for businesses is a top priority for President Trump,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This investment will fund the construction of new water, wastewater, and road infrastructure to serve businesses that are looking to expand at the Garfield Industrial Park. The project’s location in an Opportunity Zone will attract new private investment to north-central Oklahoma.”
This funding will serve one of Oklahoma’s 117 Opportunity Zones. Created by President Donald J. Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones are spurring economic development in economically-distressed communities nationwide. In June 2019, EDA added Opportunity Zones as an Investment Priority, which increases the number of catalytic Opportunity Zone-related projects that EDA can fund to fuel greater public investment in these areas.
“This $800,000 award is one of the largest economic development grants awarded in our area. The GCIA Board of Directors is looking forward to the infrastructure improvements that will allow potential companies to locate in the remaining 65 available acres, said Don Roberts, chair of the GCIA Board of Directors. On behalf of the GCIA board, we express appreciation to; City of Enid, Enid Regional Development Alliance, and Northern Oklahoma Development Authority for their collaboration in applying for the funds.”
For more information about the Garfield County Industrial Park, contact Lisa Powell at 580-233-4232 or email powell@growenid.com.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration: The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (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 to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
EDA Press Release: https://www.eda.gov/news/press-releases/2020/06/15/enid-ok.htm
