Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced significant Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding to support projects across Nevada. Senator Cortez Masto helped secure $14.9 million for Nevadaworks in Reno to help workers find good-paying jobs in innovative industries. Additional funds have been awarded to a multi-state program by WTIA Workforce that includes Nevada.
“To create jobs and help diversify Nevada’s economy, we need to make sure workers in Nevada have opportunities to pursue the careers they want in in-demand industries like health care, technology, transportation, and manufacturing,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “That’s exactly why I worked to deliver this grant funding—because I know it will offer lead to good-paying jobs for Nevadans and talented workers for our emerging industries.”
These funds have been awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The funding was made available in the American Rescue Plan to support communities as they recovered from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Cortez Masto’s advocacy was crucial to securing dedicated EDA funding in the American Rescue Plan to help states like Nevada that were affected by job and revenue loss, including in the tourism and travel industries. She has also been spearheading Nevada support for applications for specific funding opportunities.
The funds will be distributed as follows:
- $14.9 to Nevadaworks to launch the Northern Nevada Equity in Employment Project. This program will be made up of more than a dozen trade associations and companies working to place Nevadans into good-paying jobs in technology, manufacturing, transportation, and health care.
- $23.5 million to WTIA Workforce Institute to develop information technology workforce training programs across eleven U.S. states, including Nevada.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a champion of Nevada’s economy, supporting the travel and tourism sectors and working through her Innovation State Initiative to promote economic development and diversification. She has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to support Nevada’s workforce, including in the bipartisan omnibus package. She has also supported legislation and grants to develop the workforce through training in in-demand industries like health care, travel and tourism, and transportation. During the height of the pandemic, Cortez Masto delivered resources to the state’s businesses and secured flexibility for the gaming industry. In 2019 and 2022, she led bipartisan efforts to both secure the reauthorization of Brand USA through 2027 and provide it flexibility to help the tourism industry recover. Brand USA is a public-private partnership that enhances tourism and job creation across the country.
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