Did you miss key news from Commerce this week? Each week, we recap the latest U.S. Department of Commerce highlights spanning a wide range of issues promoting job creation and economic growth, programs, and events in one blog post.
Here are the key moments from Commerce: This Week
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
Op-Ed by Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross: Trump Continues to Fulfill his Promises on Trade
“By revising critical trade deals, President Trump continues to fulfill his key promises to the American people: to secure free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals for American workers and businesses,” wrote Secretary Ross, Fox Business.
On August 27, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the opening of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) STEM Talent Challenge. It aims to support organizations’ efforts to boost local science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent and workforce development models across the nation’s growing innovation economies.
“A skilled STEM workforce is key to America’s future economic success, and the Trump Administration supports communities’ efforts to train, reskill and upskill local talent,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “American businesses and entrepreneurs need more qualified employees to compete and succeed in the digital economy, and local innovation creates employer-driven models to encourage this skillset.”
On September 1, President Donald J. Trump traveled to Wisconsin and announced a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc., Kenosha, Wisconsin to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Wisconsin.
“President Trump is working diligently every day to support our nation’s economy following the impacts of COVID-19 through the CARES Act,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This investment will provide small businesses in Wisconsin with the necessary capital to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic and, in turn, create a stronger and more resilient regional economy for the future.”
Also, on September 1, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report outlining the Trump Administration’s plan to address the threat posed by increased foreign imports to American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
Op-Ed by Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross: We'll Deliver a Complete and Accurate Census Count
“The 2020 decennial census will overcome delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and severe weather conditions, and we will finish, by Sept. 30, a complete and accurate field data collection. As secretary of Commerce, I am required to deliver the fully processed results to President Donald Trump by Dec. 31. We will meet those deadlines,” wrote Secretary Ross in today’s USA Today.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley
On September 2, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelly traveled to Warren, Michigan joining Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump and General Motors CEO Mary Barra for a tour of the General Motors Global Technical Center. General Motors is one of many American companies that signed the Pledge to America’s Workers pledging 46,000 jobs and/or education opportunities.
Deputy Secretary Kelley also visited the Macomb County Area Census Office in Clinton Township, Michigan. She met with enumerators and office staff to hear their stories and thank them for their diligent work during the 2020 Census.
Around Commerce
On August 31, the United States announced additional measures to address steel imports with two key trading partners – Mexico and Brazil. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States continues to engage cooperatively with trading partners while acting responsibly to protect industries vital to our national security.
On September 1, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued an advisory on North Korea’s ballistic missile procurement activities.
On September 2, Chief of Staff Michael Walsh announced a $1.25 million EDA grant to construct an industrial rail spur to serve the Highway 31 Industrial Park in Corsicana, Texas to accelerate economic development in an Opportunity Zone.
“Providing the infrastructure businesses need to be successful is a top priority for President Trump,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This new rail spur will provide Corsicana with the necessary infrastructure to accelerate business growth and expansion at the Highway 31 Industrial Park, and the project’s location in an Opportunity Zone further incentivizes investment in the community.
Around the Bureaus
National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. Disasters don’t wait, make your plan today by visiting https://www.ready.gov/plan.
On September 1, Joseph Semsar, Deputy Under Secretary, Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary for International Trade, delivered remarks on how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will benefit American workers, business, and farmers at Greater Houston Partnership USMCA Day Webinar.
On September 2, the U.S. Minority Business Development Administration announced registration for this year’s 2020 Minority Enterprise Development Week is now open.
Also, on September 2, the U.S. Census Bureau reported new orders for manufactured goods in July, up three consecutive months, increased $27.8 billion or 6.4 percent to $466.1 billion.
On September 3, Joel Frushone, Director at EDA’s Office of External Affairs Director, announced $7.2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to 18 EDA Economic Development District organizations across Texas to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
2020 Census
Census takers are visiting homes that haven't yet responded to the #2020Census. Find out what to expect during the visit here: https://2020census.gov/en/census-takers.html. You can still respond online or by phone today at http://2020census.gov.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day!