ASU, UALR receive $300,000 grants from U.S. Commerce Department

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $7.8 million in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to universities across the nation to boost their capacity to support regional economic development strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and the University of Arkansas Little Rock both received grants of $300,000 each.

Arkansas State University will receive a $300,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to support the Delta Center for Economic Development in working with regional stakeholders across the state to develop an Arkansas Blueprint for Recovery and Resiliency and strategies to respond to immediate needs.

The University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock will receive a $300,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to assist the Arkansas Economic Development Institute in creating an Arkansas Recovery and Resiliency Plan in partnership with ASU and eight planning and economic development districts in Arkansas.

The money will be used to provide training, resources, and planning assistance for local governments, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, manufacturing and other entities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“These investments come at a crucial time to help our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make these investments in EDA University Centers across the nation to deliver university-based resources to communities and businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”