Thank you for that introduction and thank you to the Maryland Department of Labor for hosting us. We’ve lived through an historic moment. The pandemic changed our daily lives, including the way we work. American workers are seeking new skills and quality jobs, and U.S. employers are transforming how they do business. Providing access to the new, high-quality jobs of the future and giving workers...

Thank you, Governor Cooper, for the kind introduction. And thank you to our host, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. I am thrilled to be here with you to celebrate our 32 Good Jobs Challenge awardees. Funded by President Biden’s America Rescue Plan, the half billion dollar Good Jobs Challenge is making once-in-a-generation investments aimed at creating high-quality workforce...

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced grant awards to 32 industry-led workforce training partnerships across the country as part of the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The Good Jobs Challenge is administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration and will enable communities across the country to invest...

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded the first five grants as part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). These grants, totaling $10,642,577.03, will be used to fund internet access, equipment, and to hire and train information technology personnel. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves...

Thank you for that introduction. And thank you to New York City Parks for hosting me here today. I’d like to also thank Representative Jones for joining me. We have one overarching goal at the Commerce Department: to improve America’s competitiveness in every community so that our workers and companies of all sizes can succeed in the global economy. And equity underpins every aspect of what we do...

Welcome to the first meeting of the newly reestablished National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE). I’d like to thank our co-chairs: Assistant Secretary Castillo, Director Panchanathan, Steve Case, and Kristina Johnson. And I want to thank all of you – our members – for your commitment to serve. Your expertise, and more importantly, your work on this Council will help us...

On Saturday, June 19, Deputy Secretary Don Graves concluded his trip to West Africa, where he met with representatives from the governments of Côte d'Ivoire & Ghana, participated in key commercial forums to drive investment and create opportunities for U.S. businesses across Africa, and engaged with private sector and NGO representatives. Deputy Secretary Graves is the highest-ranking official to...

Thank you, Assistant Secretary Castillo, for the warm welcome and good afternoon, everyone. It is great to be here with you in person. The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is the marquee of EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs and represents the Biden Administration’s commitment to rebuilding American communities, especially those that have historically been underserved. These are big, holistic...

Innovation, Supplier Diversity, and Semiconductors Front and Center in the Motor City Yesterday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, U.S. Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence and Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, hosted a Supply Chain Summit, bringing innovation, resilience, and supplier...

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to Puerto Rico, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves visited the island from April 21-22. This visit represents the latest in a series of high-level U.S. government officials travelling to the island, focusing on supporting Puerto Rico’s long-term recovery and resilience — an important priority for President Biden. While there...