New jobs will be coming to theArkansas-Louisiana border region through a new partnership between the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and Economic Development Administration (EDA). 115 jobs will be created because of a $235,000 grant through the Arkansas-Louisiana Multimodal Economic Corridor initiative. The 90 mile corridor runs through five Arkansas counties and four Louisiana parishes.
Arkansas counties include Chicot, Desha, Drew, Bradley and Ashley. Louisiana parishes are East Carroll, Madison, West Carroll and Richland. The investment will be used to enhance Mississippi River port operations in Lake Providence, La., and the Madison Parish Port; the Yellow Bend Port on the Arkansas River; and the Port of Crossett on the Ouachita River. Improvements also will be made to U.S. 65, which connects the region north to Little Rock and to Interstate 20 – which connects to the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex region to the west and Atlanta to the east.
Both Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson welcomed DRA’s investment.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with the Delta Regional Authority and the investments they leverage that make significant infrastructure improvements and job creation in Louisiana,” said Gov. Edwards. “Today’s announcement of $235,000 in new investments adding 115 new jobs to the Arkansas-Louisiana border will enhance the Arkansas-Louisiana Multimodal Economic Corridor initiative, the Mississippi River port operations in Lake Providence, La, as well as the quality of life in East Carroll, Madison, West Carroll and Richland Parishes. Again, we are very grateful for their work in this area of our state.”
“DRA’s continued investments in the Arkansas Delta are emblematic of their dedication to the region,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “This investment in the Arkansas-Louisiana Multimodal Economic Corridor will encourage economic development by improving transportation infrastructure in rural southeast Arkansas. I look forward to seeing the positive effects these improvements will have on the Arkansas Delta region.”
The Delta Regional Authority funds infrastructure development projects throughout the eight state Delta region.
