Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to Pulaski County, Arkansas, to extend and improve Zeuber Road in support of future industrial development. The EDA grant, to be matched with more than $3 million in state and local investment, is expected to help create more than 350 jobs and spur $60 million in private investment.
“From day one, President Donald J. Trump has made it a priority to revitalize America’s roads and bridges,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This project in Pulaski County’s will support Arkansas’ local economy and set the stage for business to thrive.”
“High quality roads allow Arkansas’s economy to reach its full potential,” said Senator Cotton. “The improvements to Zeuber Road in Pulaski County will allow additional economic development in the area, and I’m grateful to Secretary Ross and the administration for their continued investment in our state’s infrastructure.”
“I’m pleased the Department of Commerce recognizes the potential economic impact the Zeuber Road project holds for the Port of Little Rock, the city, Pulaski County and the region,” said Senator Boozman. “This investment will help support future growth and improve safety by upgrading the roadway to meet the standards necessary for increased usage and access. It will also create jobs and enable future economic development. I thank Secretary Ross and the EDA for supplying this critical funding.”
The project will bring Zeuber Road up to industrial standard, including the portion of the roadway located within the boundaries of the Little Rock Port Authority industrial park. The improved roadway will make more than 370-acres of land available to industrial users.
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District. EDA funds the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.