U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.7 Million in Northern California Fiber Infrastructure

WASHINGTON – As part of a series of grants totaling $3.9 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the city of Hayward, Calif., will receive $2,744,824 to support the installation of a fiber optic network within an industrial zone to provide businesses with high-speed Internet access. This access is expected to make business operations more efficiently and enable businesses to capitalize on economic opportunities afforded by data and Internet driven industries in the Bay Area. According to the grantee, this EDA investment is expected to create 148 jobs, retain 26 jobs, and lead to more employment opportunities for the region’s workforce.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the grants in Northern California to help build structural and technical infrastructure needed to help businesses operate more efficiently, to capitalize on economic opportunity and create jobs.

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration plays an important role in facilitating development of the critical infrastructure that local communities need to support long-term job growth and economic competitiveness,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA grants will support infrastructure projects that will boost business development and job growth in the Northern California region.”