U.S. Commerce Secretary Spotlights
Job Growth In Oregon

Awards $5.6 Million for Business Development and Higher Wage Jobs for Local Citizens

U.S. Commerce Secretary Spotlights Job Growth In Oregon
Awards $5.6 Million for Business Development and Higher Wage Jobs for Local Citizens

U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans today announced economic development investments for Oregon totaling $5.6 million that will increase business investments, create good paying jobs and improve the quality lives of Oregonians.

"The Department of Commerce is pleased to partner with the people of Oregon. President Bush believes one way to create jobs is to grow the economy by encouraging investments in local communities. These investments will help attract private-sector investments and lucrative job opportunities to the region," said Evans.

The investments are:

· $2 million to the city of The Dalles to help build an underpass beneath Interstate Highway 84 to improve access between the downtown business center and the Columbia River waterfront and industrial area.

· $950,000 investment to the city of Klamath Falls and Klamath County to help build the Eastside Commerical Development Center.

· $500,000 to the South Central Oregon Economic Development District of Klamath Falls to capitalize a revolving loan fund to help Klamath Basin farmers and agriculture-related businesses diversify and expand the region's emerging technology sector.

· $84,000 to the city of Port Orford to help develop a study to speed the rehabilitation of Lake Garrison and to explore alternate water sources for business development.

· $72,000 to the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to help plan and implement the development of water facilities needed to boost economic development.

Last Friday, the Commerce Department awarded the city of Reedsport with a $2 million economic development grant to improve the water system for industrial development in the Reedsville area. U.S. Senator Gordon Smith said the grant will boost Reedsport's "innovative efforts to attract new employers to Oregon's south coast."

The Commerce Department Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded the grants. Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at: http://www.doc.gov/eda.