Congressman Salazar Urges EDA To Support Economic Development In The Arkansas Valley

Local Group Applies For Grant To Fund Business Development

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) sent a letter Tuesday to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Sandy Baruah, supporting a $300,000 grant application from the Southeast Colorado Business Retention, Expansion and Attraction group (SEBREA).  The organization consists of a six-county group of economic developers, county commissioners, Otero Junior College, Lamar Community College and the Southeast Colorado Business Development Center.

If SEABREA receives the three-year grant, it could help offset the recent loss of jobs in the area by working to create employment through retention, expansion and attraction of jobs to Southeastern Colorado.

“This program is critical and timely because of the recent closures of the Neoplan Bus Company in Lamar and the Bay Valley Processing facility in La Junta resulting in a loss of roughly 450 skilled jobs in the Lower Arkansas Valley,” said Rep. Salazar. “This job loss has left a huge economic deficit on the regional economy.”

The letter sent to the Economic Development Agency is below. 

____________________________________ 

February 27, 2007

Sandy K Baruah,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
Washington, DC
20230

Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my support for the Southeast Colorado Business Retention, Expansion & Attraction (SEBREA) in their application to the EDA for an Economic Adjustment Program grant.  SEBREA is seeking $300,000 from the EDA to help fund the three year program.

SEBREA will serve six counties in Colorado:  Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers who are working together to make an impact on the Arkansas Valley’s economic future.  This program is critical and timely because of the recent closures of the Neoplan Bus Company in Lamar and the Bay Valley Processing facility in La Junta resulting in loss of roughly 450 skilled jobs in the Lower Arkansas Valley.   This job loss has left a huge economic deficit on the regional economy. 

SEBREA will make major inroads in filling the void, working to create employment through retention, expansion and attraction of jobs to Southeastern Colorado.  As a result of developing a scope of work, renewable energy has been identified as the target industry to begin the program which can capitalize on existing natural resources and provide value to crop production.

The three-year business retention, expansion and attraction program will be a partnership with Otero Junior College, Lamar Community College, regional economic developers and local counties. The program will work closely with regional economic development organizations to assist in building a strong foundation for economic growth.  Considering the Lower Arkansas Valley’s dire times and the collaborative nature of this application, I hardly see more deserving applicants than SEBREA.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of the SEBREA’s grant application with the EDA.  For questions, please contact Sal Pace in my Pueblo District office at 719-543-8200. 

Sincerely,
         
John T. Salazar
Member of Congress