Press Release: BP Oil Spill Recovery Efforts in Alabama Get $175,000 Boost from the U.S. Department of Commerce
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Departmentâs Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced $175,000 in grants to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC) of Mobile, Ala., to help the state recover from the BP oil spill. The investment will help Alabama assess the impact of the disaster and provide technical assistance to communities to focus their economic recovery efforts.
âThe Obama administration is committed to helping the Gulf Coast recover in the wake of the BP oil spill,â said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. âThese EDA grants will help to develop the Alabama Gulf Coast Oil Spill Regional Economic Assessment and Long Term Recovery Plan and provide critical technical assistance to impacted communities.â
The investments announced today include:
· $150,000 to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission to develop and facilitate an Alabama Gulf Coast Oil Spill Regional Economic Assessment and Long Term Recovery Plan. The Plan will evaluate the impact of the oil spill on the economies of the SARPC member governments, propose strategies to mitigate those impacts, and develop an action plan that will guide the recovery efforts.
· $25,000 to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission to provide local technical assistance to Alabama communities impacted by the BP oil spill.
To date, EDA has allocated a series of grants totaling nearly $5.6 million to help the Gulf Coast recover through its Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program. In July, Congress provided $225 million for oil spill recovery in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, including $83 million for unemployment assistance, $14 million to respond to economic impacts on fishermen for various agencies such as ESA, and $5 million for EDA to conduct economic recovery activities.
These grants from the EDA are part of the Obama administrationâs overall commitment to the Gulf Coast, to help the region regain its economic footing. At the Presidentâs direction, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and other federal officials have met with people in impacted communities throughout the region to discuss long-term economic and environmental restoration ideas. The framework to address those issues will be released this fall. In addition, the Administrationâs âEconomic Solutions Teamâ has been focused on efforts to ensure a collaborative recovery process that targets resources and optimizes economic opportunities, holding multiple sessions in each Gulf state. The team is working in partnership with experienced economic development and disaster recovery specialists in the Gulf region, who are providing vital capacity and technical assistance.