Underwood, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo Announce $18 Million to Accelerate Economic Growth, Invest in Illinois Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Industry

WASHINGTON – Today, along with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL -14) announced that thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award $18 million in grants to Illinois travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation businesses. The funding will support marketing, infrastructure, and workforce investments to accelerate Illinois' economy and help local businesses.

"I was proud to support the American Rescue Plan as a lifeline for Illinois families and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic," said Underwood. "The law is propelling our economic recovery, and I'm glad to see our tourism, travel, and recreation industries receive the investments they need to build back better and help accelerate the economic growth we're seeing in Illinois."

"The coronavirus pandemic devasted the travel and tourism industry – the linchpin of local economies across the country," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. "EDA is proud to give state and territory leaders the resources to build back better through locally led strategies that uniquely address the challenges and opportunities of their local travel tourism and outdoor recreation industry."

The funds are part of EDA's $750 million American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation program, which provides $510 million in State Tourism grants and $240 million in Competitive Tourism grants to advance the economic recovery and resiliency of communities where the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries were hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

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