10.02.14

Durbin Announces $500,000 Investment in Chicago Communities To Help Create Jobs and Boost Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has awarded a total of $500,000 in funding to help create jobs, boost economic development, and grow minority owned businesses in Chicago, Illinois.

“Today’s funding will help Chicago’s manufacturing cluster create and implement a plan for continued regional growth. It will also give local minority-owned business the tools to expand, boosting economic development and creating jobs,” said Durbin.

Under today’s announcement, the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium Manufacturing Partnership will receive 200,000 in funding from the EDA to develop a long-term strategy to accelerate the development of the metals manufacturing cluster in Chicago, with the hopes of bringing higher skill, higher wage jobs to the city.                                          

Also under today’s announcement, the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council will receive $300,000 in funding from the MBDA to help minority owned businesses in Chicago export goods and increase capital. 

EDA is an agency within the U.S. Commerce Department and supports the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States.  Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.

MBDA is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. MBDA’s programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally.