Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.9 million grant to the Global Forum for Freedom and Justice, Washington, D.C., to develop a feasibility study to determine where to establish the Global Forum for Freedom and Justice in Birmingham, Alabama.
“The United States was founded on the fundamental truth that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The Global Forum for Freedom and Justice will provide an international 21st century gathering place focused on leadership, education, innovation and understanding built at the birthplace of the civil rights movement.”
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the establishment of the Global Forum for Freedom and Justice in Birmingham,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The facility will be a catalyst for connecting Americans and citizens from around the world to new ideas and insights concerning leadership and civil rights.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.