United States Senator Jerry Moran was in Salina today to speak at the Schwan's construction site concerning a $3.8 million federal grant the City of Salina has received in connection to the expansion.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today announced that the department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the City of Salina for drainage and road improvements to allow for the Schwan's expansion.
The EDA grant, to be matched with $939,200 in local investment, helps pave the way for the Schwan's expansion, the U.S. Department of Commerce noted.
On Aug. 10, Schwan's announced the 400,000-square-foot expansion of its pizza manufacturing facility at the Salina Airport Industrial Center, bringing with it 225 new full-time jobs by 2023. The move also helps secure the future of more than 1,100 current jobs at the Schwan's facility.
READ: Schwan's to expand, add 225 new full-time jobs
“President Biden is committed to unleashing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds back stronger,” Raimondo said in a news release from the U.S. Department of Commerce. “This EDA investment in Salina will provide infrastructure improvements needed to support the expansion of a major food manufacturer – creating a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”
“Strong local economies are key to recovering from this pandemic, and federal investments like this one help accomplish important regional economic development goals,” Moran said. “This grant will support local business expansion in Salina, keeping jobs in the area and creating new opportunities for the local workforce. I will continue to work with our federal agencies to make certain that Kansas is a priority when these resources are distributed.”