Stockton, California Gets $5.98 Million In Federal Funds
More than 16,000 Jobs Will be Created

U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today in Stockton, Calif. presented Stockton’s Mayor Gary Podesto with a $5.98 million economic development check to boost the areas manufacturing sector and create more than 16,000 manufacturing jobs by 2013.

“The Department of Commerce is pleased to partner with the people of Stockton and set the stage for investment and innovation through economic development grants like these,” said Commerce Secretary Don Evans. “President Bush and I are committed to working with local communities to grow the economy, create jobs and encourage investments in local areas.”

The investment will be used to build a pipeline from the water plant on the east side of Stockton to the South Stockton Industrial Area and to build a rail track extension. The investment will increase the supply, reliability and quality of water to industry and provide rail infrastructure vital to the flow of freight into and out of the region. The construction of the 1,000 feet of track onto Duck Creek Industrial Park will further enhance the development of more manufacturing and industrial companies within San Joaquin County

The Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded the grant.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.

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.