Article Summary –
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $690,000 grant to Collins Lake Autism Center in Cleveland, New Mexico, to build an integrated therapy center, which will provide mental health and trauma recovery services following devastating wildfires. This investment, matched with $175,000 in local funds, aims to foster job creation, economic resilience, and healthcare infrastructure in the community. The funding is part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which allocated $483 million for disaster relief and recovery in regions affected by major natural disasters in 2021 and 2022.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $690,000 grant to Collins Lake Autism Center in Cleveland, New Mexico. The funding will aid in constructing an integrated therapy center aimed at providing mental health and trauma recovery services following recent wildfires. This grant is supported by $175,000 in local funds and is part of a broader effort to bolster economic resilience and healthcare infrastructure in the region.
This grant will facilitate training for counselors and therapists who will deliver essential mental health and trauma recovery services to wildfire-affected individuals. The EDA’s investment, matched with local contributions, aims to support community recovery and foster economic resilience by creating healthcare jobs.
“The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to invest in place-based economic development,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This investment will assist the community of Cleveland as it recovers from devastating wildfires, and support a resilient, regional economy with critical jobs in healthcare.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham highlighted the center’s role in job creation and healthcare support, emphasizing the project’s contribution to a “stronger, healthier future” for Cleveland’s residents. Senator Ben Ray Luján expressed his anticipation for the center’s impact on families and their recovery, especially for adults with Autism. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández noted the significance of the funding in helping the community heal from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire.
This initiative is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which allocated $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief in areas affected by major disasters in 2021 and 2022, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding. More information can be found on EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.
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