U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $6.8 Million in Disaster Supplemental Funding to Support Automotive Workforce Development in Augusta, Georgia

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $6.8 million grant to the Augusta Technical Foundation, Inc. in Augusta, Georgia, for the development of a state-of-the-art automotive workforce training facility.

This award will enable Augusta Technical Foundation, Inc. to renovate and refurbish a 65,000-square foot former automotive dealership, providing classrooms and workspace to enhance and expand the automotive technology program. According to grantee estimates, the new facility will have the capacity to train more than 1,300 students per year, representing a tenfold increase in current enrollment.

"This historic investment will fuel the community of Augusta, GA going forward," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. "President Trump is committed to training the youth of today to fill the high-tech advanced manufacturing automotive jobs being built in America."

This award is provided through EDA's Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental funding program in response to Hurricane Helene, which impacted the Augusta area in September 2024. The EDA Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program makes approximately $1.5 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024.

EDA releases announcements for grants over $1 million. For more information on all EDA awards, please visit eda.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.