[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4612-4614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1585]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration


Community Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2010 
Annual Report

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Commerce

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This report is provided in compliance with Section 275(f) of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2371d(f)), which directs the Secretary 
of Commerce to provide an annual report describing and assessing the 
impact of implementation grants made under the Community Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (CTAA) Program by the 15th of December each year. 
Section 275 states:
    (f) Annual Report.--Not later than December 15 in each of the 
calendar years 2009 through 2011, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means 
of the House of Representatives a report--
    (1) Describing each grant awarded under this section during the 
preceding fiscal year; and
    (2) Assessing the impact on the eligible community of each such 
grant awarded in a fiscal year before the fiscal year referred to in 
paragraph (1).

ADDRESSES: Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Division, Room D100, 
Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Borlik, Director of the TAAF 
Program, 202-482-3901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Description

    The CTAA Program is one of a suite of Trade Adjustment Assistance 
(TAA) programs designed to help the U.S. respond proactively to trade 
impacts. It was established by Congress under the Trade and 
Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act (TGAAA) of 2009, which was 
included as subtitle I (letter ``I'') of title I of Division B of the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5, 123 
Stat. 115, at 367). The mission of the program is to create and retain 
jobs by providing project grants to communities (defined under the 
statute as cities, counties, or other political subdivisions of a State 
or a consortium of political subdivisions of a State) that experienced 
or were threatened by job loss resulting from trade impacts. The 
program is administered by the Economic Development Administration 
(EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
    Grants under the program are being used to support a wide range of 
technical, strategic planning, and infrastructure projects to help 
communities adapt to trade impact issues and to promote economic 
diversification.
    To be considered eligible for CTAA, communities must have been 
previously certified under one or more of the following three TAA 
Programs: TAA for Workers, Firms, or Farmers, which are administered by 
the Departments of Labor, Commerce (through EDA), and Agriculture, 
respectively. In addition, EDA must have made a determination that the 
community had been significantly impacted by trade.
    Funding in the amount of $40 million was appropriated for both the 
CTAA and the TAA for Firms Programs authorized under the Trade Act, as 
amended by the TGAAA. Of the $40 million appropriated for both 
programs, $36.8 million was made available for project grants under the 
CTAA Program. The TGAAA imposed certain funding limitations on the CTAA 
Program and in accordance with section 275(c) of the Trade Act (19 
U.S.C. 2371d(c)), impacted communities did not receive more than $5 
million to implement a Strategic Plan developed under section 276 of 
the Trade Act. Also, in accordance with section 276(c)(2) of the Trade 
Act (19 U.S.C. 2371e(c)(2)), no more than $25 million of the total 
amount appropriated for the CTAA Program was made available for grants 
to develop Strategic Plans. In addition to the $36.8 million in Federal 
funds, other public and private sector entities are leveraging program 
funds through local match and will contribute $28.9 million to CTAA 
projects for a total program investment of $65.3 million.
    More than 130 applicants applied for assistance under the CTAA 
program, requesting $156 million dollars for a variety of projects. The 
full $36.8 million available was awarded on a competitive basis to 36 
communities following a rigorous evaluation process. EDA used six 
evaluation criteria to determine the extent to which a proposed 
project:
    1. Supports small and medium-sized communities;
    2. Assists the most severely impacted communities;
    3. Delivers a high return on investment;
    4. Supports regionalism, innovation, and entrepreneurship;
    5. Supports global trade and competitiveness; and
    6. Grows the ``green economy.''

Description of Each Grant Awarded in FY 2010

    The following is a list of projects that were awarded in FY 2010 to 
CTAA recipients.
     $3.5 million to the Village of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 
to help build the 40,000-square-foot Southeast Wisconsin Innovation 
Center, which was certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's 
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The 
business incubator for biomedical, life science and biotechnology 
start-ups will enhance and build upon the region's entrepreneurial 
resources to accelerate the formation and growth of new and innovative 
companies. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 350 
jobs.
     $3 million to the City of Danville, Illinois to construct 
a roadway and rail overpass bridge to support the city's industrial 
area by improving the transport of goods and services along major 
transportation routes. The grantee estimates that this investment will 
create 15 jobs and retain 391 jobs.
     $2.4 million to the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of 
Governments and the City of Woodland, Washington to make infrastructure 
improvements to expand the Woodland Light Industrial Park. The grantee 
estimates that this investment will create 344 jobs and retain 250 
jobs.
     $2.1 million to the Jackson County Development Authority 
of Ripley, West Virginia for construction, water, sewer, and rail 
infrastructure improvements. The grantee estimates that this investment 
will create 45 jobs.
     $1.84 million to the City of Darlington, South Carolina to 
make sewer system improvements to increase sewer treatment capacity for 
existing and prospective industries. The grantee estimates that this 
investment will create 35 jobs and retain 200 jobs.
     $1.8 million to the City of Bastrop, Louisiana to fund a 
new industrial park in the U.S. 165 corridor.
     $1.74 million to Franklin County, North Carolina and the 
Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development Corporation to build a roadway 
for improved access to the Triangle North Franklin Business Park. The 
grantee estimates that this investment will create 3,000 jobs.
     $1.66 million to the Winston County Commission, the City 
of Haleyville, and the Cooperative District of Winston County, Alabama 
to make infrastructure improvements to serve businesses locating in the 
Winston County Industrial Park and Haleyville's

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North Industrial Park. The grantee estimates that this investment will 
create 168 jobs.
     $1.6 million to Lincoln County and the City of Lincolnton, 
North Carolina to make sewer improvements needed for the development of 
Phase 1 of the Airport Business Park. The grantee estimates that this 
investment will create 200 jobs.
     $1.5 million to the New River Valley Planning District 
Commission of Radford, Virginia to provide funding for the Western 
Virginia Transportation Equipment Manufacturing Competitiveness 
Initiative (TEMCI). The initiative will increase the ability of 
regional manufacturing and supplier firms to compete in the global 
marketplace by providing technical assistance to transportation 
equipment manufacturing and supplier firms in product development, 
process improvements, and the integration of green technologies and 
processes.
     $1.5 million to the City of Anderson, Indiana to provide 
funding for road infrastructure improvements and related appurtenances 
to the city-owned former General Motors site on both the east and west 
sides of the property adjacent to State Road 9 in Anderson to develop 
an industrial park. The grantee estimates this investment will create 
250 jobs.
     $1.42 million to Washington County and the City of 
Eastport, Maine for the construction and rehabilitation of the Eastport 
Business Center and establishment of the Maine Marine Energy Center, a 
facility that will support manufacturing components for the emerging 
tidal energy generation industry. This will be the first marine 
renewable energy manufacturing facility of its kind in the United 
States. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 75 jobs.
     $1.22 million to the City of Galesburg and Knox County, 
Illinois to create the Entrepreneurs Innovate and Go Global Initiative 
aimed at helping the region support entrepreneurs and create products 
and services for export in the global economy. The grantee estimates 
that this investment will create 327 jobs and retain three jobs.
     $1.2 million to the City of Janesville, Wisconsin to 
construct the Rock County Small Business Incubation and Innovation 
Center, leveraging the competencies and intellectual capital of the 
region's industry clusters to create jobs and attract private 
investment. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 45 
jobs.
     $1.2 million to Mississippi County and Blytheville-Gosnell 
Regional Airport Authority of Blytheville, Arkansas to expand and 
improve two facilities at the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport. The 
project will advance plans to transform the former Eaker Air Force Base 
into a regional aeronautics testing and aviation maintenance facility, 
enhancing and diversifying the community's economic base. The grantee 
estimates that this investment will create 300 jobs.
     $1.18 million to Overton County and the City of 
Livingston, Tennessee to extend a water line needed to develop an 
industrial park in the county that will attract and accommodate new 
industry.
     $1.15 million to the Flathead County Economic Development 
Authority of Kalispell in Montana for site acquisition of the Columbia 
Falls Rail Park. The Park will serve manufacturers of value-added wood 
products and related businesses. The grantee estimates that this 
investment will create 88 jobs.
     $1 million to Idaho's Boise State University to build the 
Technology and Entrepreneurial (TECenter) Incubator. The TECenter will 
provide local entrepreneurs with the expertise and technological tools 
needed to grow their businesses and create new jobs. The grantee 
estimates that this investment will create 311 jobs and retain 255 
jobs.
     $750,000 to McMinn County, Tennessee and the McMinn County 
Economic Development Authority to install broadband fiber in three 
county industrial parks to help attract new businesses to the area.
     $650,000 to Bedford County, Pennsylvania to expand a 
multi-tenant building and incubator space in Bedford County Business 
Park I with the goal of stimulating entrepreneurial development in the 
emerging I-99 Innovation Corridor in Central Pennsylvania. The grantee 
estimates that this investment will create 25 jobs.
     $634,130 to the Town of Eureka, Montana to fund the 
engineering, design, and construction of the Wood Development Center to 
be located at the Tobacco Valley Industrial District Business Park. The 
Center will focus on enhancing development of value-added wood 
industries, biomass, and small-diameter, specialty mill production by 
providing shared office resources and support to multiple 
entrepreneurs. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 
25 jobs and retain five jobs.
     $627,000 to the Bitterroot Economic Development District, 
Inc., of Missoula, Montana to help create and retain jobs in the timber 
industry by implementing a competitive strategy to guide economic 
diversification efforts in a four-county region. The grantee estimates 
that this investment will create 83 jobs and retain 88 jobs.
     $500,000 to Orange County, California to prepare an 
analysis of the current Orange County economy to help target new 
industries, diversify the local economic base, and advance regional 
competitiveness. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 
100 jobs and retain 300 jobs.
     $457,500 to Mifflin County and the Mifflin County 
Industrial Development Authority of Mifflin, Pennsylvania to make 
infrastructure improvements to a multi-tenant manufacturing building, 
the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC) Plaza, 
which will allow for the expansion of production, an increase in global 
exports, and the retention and creation of manufacturing jobs. The 
grantee estimates that this investment will create 50 jobs and retain 
50 jobs.
     $391,468 to the City of Sterling Heights, Michigan to make 
technology and infrastructure improvements to the Macomb Technology 
Advancement Center, a business diversification center and incubator 
that provides support to entrepreneurs and technology transfer 
businesses. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 500 
jobs.
     $383,965 to the City of Chicago, Illinois to develop and 
implement Chicago's Sustainable Industries (CSI) Project, a strategy to 
preserve and grow manufacturing sectors within the city that have the 
potential to succeed in the 21st century economy.
     $301,000 to Clinton County Government of Plattsburgh, New 
York to partially fund three workforce development activities in 
Clinton County, including marketing the North Country Workforce 
Investment Board's employer programs, purchasing renewable energy 
equipment for the Wind Energy and Turbine Training program at Clinton 
Community College, and funding aviation training and equipment at the 
Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute.
     $200,000 to the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning 
Commission of Postville, Iowa to implement a 27-county, three-state 
regional action plan (NE Iowa, SE Minnesota, and Western Wisconsin) 
prepared under the direction of the Tri-State Aim2Win network.
     $170,000 to Grant County, New Mexico to develop an 
economic development master plan that will help target new industries 
and create jobs.
     $155,689 to Lane County, Oregon to enhance 
entrepreneurship by implementing economic gardening, business 
development, instructional technical assistance, and workforce

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training programs. The grantee estimates that this investment will 
create 50 jobs and retain 50 jobs.
     $133,500 to the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning 
Commission of Menasha, Wisconsin to fund a strategic plan for expanding 
global trade in Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marinette, 
Outagamie, Sheboygan, Waupaca, and Winnebago counties in northeastern 
Wisconsin. The grantee estimates that this investment will create 200 
jobs.
     $93,046 to Morris County, Texas to develop an economic 
development strategic plan to assess the current market in order to 
diversify the local economic base and create higher-skill, living-wage 
jobs.
     $78,102 to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments of 
Greenfield, Massachusetts to develop a strategic plan for the Franklin 
County Interconnection and Innovation District, which will leverage 
existing and emerging regional strengths to encourage job growth and 
business expansion in information technology, renewable energy, green 
technology, the creative economy, and advanced manufacturing.
     $75,000 to the Northwest Iowa Planning & Development 
Commission of Spencer, Iowa to develop a strategic plan to help the 
region map its future economic course, providing a precise and targeted 
route focused on job creation, industrial diversification, and long-
term stability.
     $75,000 to the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning 
and Development Commission of Oil City, Pennsylvania to develop a trade 
strategy to assist Crawford County's tooling and machining industry in 
boosting its competitiveness and finding new opportunities for success 
in the global marketplace.
     $53,194 to Barnwell County, South Carolina to support the 
development and implementation of a strategic plan for leveraging 
public-private partnerships and regional assets to enhance the 
specialty agribusiness sector.

Impact on Eligible Communities

    Since this program is new, EDA is still in the process of 
collecting long-term, market-based data. However, grantee estimates 
suggest that 6,586 jobs will be created, and 1,892 jobs will be 
retained as a result of grants awarded under CTAA. As noted above, job 
creation projections were not provided by grantees that received 
funding to develop strategic plans--however, it is likely that many 
jobs will be created when those plans are implemented over the next few 
years.
    The CTAA program illustrates that EDA is able to address trade 
impact issues effectively at the community level. It is anticipated 
that many businesses from across the nation will benefit from the 36 
CTAA-funded projects through the development and implementation of 
sound regional economic recovery and development strategies. These 
strategies will help provide the hard and soft infrastructure needed 
for businesses to successfully compete in the global marketplace.

    Dated: January 20, 2011.
Bryan Borlik,
Director, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-1585 Filed 1-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P