June 24, 2017 - Northeastern Pennsylvania and the rest of coal country can apply for federal grants to spur job growth in areas hurt by the coal industry’s decline.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced Friday $30 million will be available through the 2017 Assistance to Coal Communities initiative.

“The Trump administration is working every day to help America’s coal industry, its workers, and their communities,” said Secretary Ross in a press release. “This funding is one element of a government-wide effort to restore American jobs, and renew the areas hardest hit by misguided regulations.”

The agency is seeking applications for projects and activities that will:

• Support the creation of new businesses and jobs in a variety of industry sectors.

• Create or implement economic diversification strategies targeting affected workers and businesses.

• Develop a business incubator program.

• Enhance access to and use of broadband services to support job growth.

• Facilitate access to private capital investment, and provide related capacity building and technical assistance.

• Promote market access for goods and services created and manufactured by businesses in the impacted region. 

For additional information about ACC 2017, go to: www.eda.gov/coal.