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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $380,000 to Make Critical Railroad Infrastructure Improvements in Chicot County, Arkansas

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
June 22, 2016


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $380,000 grant to the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to help develop an effective drainage system essential to the safety and longevity of railroad infrastructure in Chicot County.

“The Obama administration is committed to ensuring that our communities have the critical infrastructure they need to support businesses while making them more resilient to natural disasters,” said Jay Williams, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The EDA investment will provide a drainage system that will safeguard railroad infrastructure from the impact of future flood events to protect commercial activities and jobs.”

In 2008, Hurricane Gustav dumped up to 12 inches of rain in Chicot County. Since Gustav, at least two more instances of major flooding have impacted businesses and jobs in the region. This EDA investment will help to create an effective drainage system that will help the community become more disaster resilient by allowing them to maintaining economic activities in the event of future major weather events. The railroad drainage improvements made under this grant will run from Lake Village to the Arkansas/Louisiana state-line in Chicot County.

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.