U.S. Secretary of Commerce to Announce EDA Investment to Benefit New Orleans Entrepreneurs

Department of CommerceAs part of her nationwide listening tour, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will be at the Idea Village tomorrow to announce an Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment to benefit New Orleans entrepreneurs.

Media is requested to arrive at 2:50 PM and a tour of the Idea Village will begin at 3:35 PM. The press briefing with Secretary Pritzker will begin promptly at 4:05 PM.

Secretary Pritzker  has been traveling since July meeting with businesses, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and Department of Commerce (DOC) employees. The tour included a launch event in Colorado and stops in Albany, New York, Hartford, Conn., Nashville, Tenn., Des Moines, Iowa, Orlando, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga.

“As Secretary of Commerce, my goal is to serve as a bridge to the business community – both domestically and abroad – so that we can work together to strengthen the economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans,” said Secretary Pritzker. “I intend to leverage the sum of my experiences as an entrepreneur, a business leader, and a citizen deeply committed to American competitiveness to help strengthen the Department and the government-wide leadership it provides in areas such as manufacturing, attracting business investment, innovation, and exporting.”

Additionally, Secretary Pritzker will attend and speak at the second public meeting of the Council to vote on the Council’s Initial Comprehensive Plan and hear public comments on restoration efforts, participate in a roundtable with local CEOs and business leaders at Loyola University to discuss the challenges facing the business community, and meet with local employees from EDA, and the U.S. Export Assistance Center.

“The purpose of this listening tour is to hear directly from business leaders, entrepreneurs, and elected officials about their efforts to drive economic development and create good-paying, long-term jobs,” Secretary Pritzker said. “I believe it’s particularly important to connect with business and thought leaders early and often, both to hear their ideas on how government and the private sector can partner on strategic initiatives to grow business, and to promote the tremendous work the Department of Commerce does on behalf of U.S. companies. Whether it’s supporting manufacturers, empowering exporters to reach new markets, bringing broadband to communities across the nation, or providing intellectual property protection, the Department of Commerce is pushing forward with efforts to protect, promote, inform and anticipate what America needs to be competitive and innovative in the 21st century.”