U.S. Congressman Don Davis has announced that four applicants in North Carolina’s First Congressional District, including one in Greene County, will be among the first recipients of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission’s inaugural State Economic and Infrastructure Development grant program.
“These federal investments, made through the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, aim to enhance infrastructure and stimulate economic growth. The N.C. First Congressional District’s counties are some of our state’s most economically distressed areas,” Davis said. “We can make a difference by addressing economic disparities and promoting regional development. There is a critical need to focus on investing in infrastructure and economic development initiatives across the east.”
The four applicants will receive a total of $1,335,620.
Greene County: Lenoir Community College: Aviation Academy $285,480.Bertie, Hertford, and Northampton Counties: Roanoke-Chowan Community College: Weld to work Pipeline $470,140.Vance County: City of Henderson: Low-Pressure Pump Station $500,000.Warren County: Town of Warrenton: Developing Frontier Warren’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem $80,000.
This flagship grant program is designed to revitalize and spur economic development across counties in the Southeast Crescent region — Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
“The inaugural SEID grant program represents a significant step toward addressing longstanding economic challenges experienced by the region’s 51.1 million residents. By investing in community-based projects, SCRC is laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth and improved quality of life,” said Jennifer Clyburn Reed, SCRC federal co-chair.
The $19 million SEID grant program will fund projects that align with priorities identified in SCRC’s authorizing statute, five-year strategic plan, and state economic development plans. Each state’s grant allocation was determined using a four-pronged formula based on equality, total regional population, total distressed population, and each state’s distressed area in square miles.
SCRC is funding 57 projects, serving 126 counties, of which 81% are designated as distressed counties. Additionally, 42 or 74% of the funded projects are categorized as infrastructure projects — representing a $15.6 million investment in laying the foundation for sustainable economic development and growth in the region. The awards exceed SCRC’s statutory requirements to allocate 50% of funding to support projects in distressed communities and 40% to infrastructure projects. The results demonstrate SCRC’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs in the more distressed areas within its footprint.
Davis introduced bipartisan legislation that supports the SCRC’s work so that it can continue to support and uplift communities throughout District 1. H.R. 5899, the Southeastern Crescent Economic Empowerment Act, reauthorizes the commission and provides needed flexibilities that will increase its ability to support various local and rural communities.
For more information about the grant program and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, visit scrc.gov.
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