Mississippi Co. receives $2 million for cleanup at former Eaker Air Force Base

Mississippi County has received $2 million in federal funding to begin a comprehensive clean-up effort at the Arkansas Aeroplex, formerly known as the Eaker Air Force Base, in Blytheville.

This funding, approved by Congress in March as part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, is allocated for the “North End Clean Up” project, a pivotal step toward ongoing revitalization efforts at the aeroplex.

Funding will offset a portion of the equipment, labor and transportation needed to remove 238 abandoned duplexes on the north end of the 3,500-acre former air base. Clean-up efforts will also include disposal of potential environmental hazards and clearing the area of debris that has accumulated since the base was closed in 1992.

“The Arkansas Aeroplex has vast potential, and this clean-up project is a critical next step in unlocking that future growth through redevelopment efforts,” U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said. “As a former federal military base, there are numerous structures containing hazardous materials, and the federal government has a responsibility to assist with improvement efforts. With this project underway, Mississippi County is on target to attract new businesses and investment opportunities, further bolstering economic growth in a region already known to be the largest steel-producing county in the United States.”

At least 35 commercial businesses operate at the Arkansas Aeroplex, and the facility is also regularly used as a repair and testing site option for large commercial and military aircraft.

With 11,600 feet of runway, the facility is viewed as a potential asset by a number of national manufacturing, e-commerce and distribution companies.

“We appreciate the leadership of Congress, specifically Rep. Rick Crawford and Sen. John Boozman, in approving this funding,” Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson said. “The Arkansas Aeroplex is already a growing and vital piece of our economic development strategy, and the federal funding ensures that this work continues to propel us into the future.”