SPANISH FORT, Ala. — National Incident Commander Adm. Thad Allen announced Monday afternoon the deployment of 19 additional economic assessment and evaluation teams to coastal communities affected by the April 20 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill off the coast of Louisiana.

Brian McGowan, deputy assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, is coordinating the interagency National Incident Command Economic Solutions Team and said in a prepared statement President Barack Obama’s administration is “committed to helping the region regain its economic footing.”

“Communities along the Gulf Coast are facing difficult and uncertain economic times … and these assessments are one important step in the process to get local residents and the economy working again. This effort will help ensure a collaborative recovery process that targets resources and optimizes economic recovery efforts,” McGowan said.

It was not immediately clear which Baldwin County communities would be designated to host teams.

According to the release, the interagency teams have been created to guide communities in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas toward “spearheading post-event economic recovery efforts,” while helping the communities affected acclimate to their new economic realities and develop plans for moving forward.

The command’s Economic Solutions Team consists of federal agency representatives working in concert with economic development and disaster recovery specialists.

Allen said two pilot teams already deployed to communities in Louisiana are providing the baseline for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the broader program.

Specifically, the teams will rely on local leadership from regional governments; chambers of commerce and economic development organizations; and key industry representatives from each community affected.