DRA Leads Public-Private Partnership To Invest $108 Million In Local Communities

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill announced a slate of nine projects Wednesday (Sept. 23) that will bring together public and private partners to invest more than $108 million in federal, state, and local resources to support small business owners and entrepreneurs across the state.

Hutchinson, with Masingill and a host of civic and economic development officials in the background, said he was pleased to team with DRA to focus on the creation of economic development and job opportunities, especially in the Arkansas Delta.

“Whenever we look at maximizing the state’s investment on economic development projects and infrastructure, the close coordination with (DRA) is essential and happens regularly,” the governor said. “What we are announcing today is an illustration of that, so I am pleased to be here with all the partners … who have worked hard in the trenches and will benefit from this cooperative partnership.”

According to Masingill, DRA will leverage $1.3 million in federal resources into $7 million in total public investment and nearly $100 million in private investment for Arkansas’ Delta communities, their residents and their economies. The investments are expected to help create and retain nearly 1,000 jobs for local residents and train 600 residents for jobs in those communities, from Little Rock to smaller towns like Yellville and Lake Village.

Masingill said the investments are made through the DRA States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), the agency’s main federal funding program that invests in basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, workforce development, and small business and entrepreneurship, and health access projects in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state Delta region. DRA coordinates directly with Arkansas’ six planning and development districts in the region for program funding implementation, he said.

“The way that we work, we do that in real tight and collaboration partnership with our states and governors,” Masingill said. “This is economic development – this is not grants and government work as usual.”

Here’s a snapshot of Delta Regional Authority’s SEDAP investment projects for 2015:

Be Pro. Be Proud, Regional – A State Chamber of Commerce initiative that will educate approximately 800,000 9-12 grade students, parents, teachers and other key influencers about the value of technical skilled professions with emphasis on workforce development. DRA Investment: $250,000; Leveraged Public Investment: $245,700.

Chicot County Waterline Extension, Lake Village — Extension of the water line that will accommodate the Loves Travel Stops and Country Store that is locating in Lake Village (15 jobs to be created). DRA Investment: $65,069; Private Investment: $4,000,000.

Helena Harbor Rail Improvements, Helena — Necessary improvements to the rail system serving Phillips County, AR, and specifically the Helena Port area, in order to reopen the rail line and retain industry (115 jobs to be retained). DRA Investment: $155,500; Public Leveraged Investment: $500,000.

Independence County Ozark Mountain Poultry Feed Mill, Magness — Infrastructure improvements including concrete paving of an access road and the construction of rail lines to support the expansion of a feed mill for Ozark Mountain Poultry (225 jobs to be created and 247 jobs to be retained). DRA Investment: $150,000; Leveraged Public Investment: $3,492,520; Private Investment: $35,000,000.

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Expansion, North Little Rock — Expansion of the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum to enlarge the space in which historical artifacts can be displayed and to enhance the daily activities of the museum for the tourists and visitors to the USS Razorback (2 jobs to be created). DRA Investment: $150,000; Leveraged Public Investment: $20,000.

Fairfield Bay Highway 16 Sewer Extension, Fairfield Bay — Extension of sewer line from existing manhole south of the Presbyterian Church on Dave Creek Parkway to businesses on highway 16 that are currently on septic system (10 jobs to be retained). DRA Investment: $133,266; Leveraged Public Investment: $50,000.

North Little Rock EDC Equipment Purchase, North Little Rock — Purchase and installation of equipment to be used by the City of North Little Rock, North Little Rock Electric Department, and Ben. E. Keith Foods, a food distribution company (82 jobs to be created and 256 jobs to be retained). DRA Investment: $150,000; Public Leveraged Investment: $2,120,000; Private Investment: $60,000,000.

Our House Learning Center Renovation, Little Rock — Renovation of Our House’s Learning Center, which equips homeless adults with full-time jobs each year, for a new roof, electrical and HVA systems, flooring, and exterior drainage systems as well as redesign of computer lab, classroom space, and other amenities for students (12 jobs to be created and retained, 600 individuals to be trained). DRA Investment: $100,000; Leveraged Public Investment: $679,690; Private Investment: $600,000.

Yellville Rail Spur, Yellville — improvements for reopening of the only publicly accessible rail spur on the Missouri Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) as well as road, electricity, and water service between industrial park and the rail spur (5 jobs to be created and 15 jobs to be retained). DRA Investment: $124, 696; Leveraged Public Investment: $45,000.