Fed Grant for Technical Assistance Awarded to SWPA Group

The U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration is giving Christian Evangelistic Economic Development of Pittsburgh $300,000 to help create new jobs and generate private investment in micro-enterprises to poor communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. The grant from the EDA was matched by the Heinz Endowments for a total of $600,000. Rufus Idris, Executive Director of CEED says the grant will help them expand their capacity to help 75 "immigrant owned, refugee owned, minority owned and veteran owned micro enterprises in southwestern Pennsylvania." The grant will go to efforts in the ten county region. CEED's work has helped a computer repair business, coffee shop and furniture design businesses get off the ground, as well as provided math and science tutoring. The group works with families from 26 countries.