Press Releases

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) joined Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Port of Little Rock Executive Director Bryan Day, Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Little Rock Regional Chamber representatives, and state and local economic development leaders to announce a $4.5 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for critical infrastructure improvements at the Port of Little Rock.

The grant will support construction of infrastructure that will provide secondary access to the southwest portion of the Port and a more direct route to Interstate 530. According to EDA, the project is estimated to create 1,050 new jobs and generate more than $1 billion in private investment.

Rep. French Hill said, “The Port is one of the great economic development assets in central Arkansas and across our state, with tremendous untapped potential, which is why I have worked for more than a decade to remove barriers to development so local leaders and private industry can put that potential to work for communities across central Arkansas. This $4.5 million federal grant will help Pulaski County continue that momentum by improving access to the Port and helping businesses take full advantage of its river, rail, road, and air connections, making the Port and central Arkansas even more attractive for businesses, investment, and jobs.

“I have been proud to work alongside Bryan Day, Judge Hyde, Mayor Scott, Jay Chesshir, and our state and local partners to advance this vision, and I look forward to continuing that work with them until the job is complete.”

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said, “I’m grateful to the Economic Development Administration and our partners for their continued investment in Little Rock. Riverport Road Phase II will improve access to the Port and help connect our residents to high-wage, high-demand jobs. Together, we have secured more than $51 million in state and federal funding for infrastructure and Port projects since 2019. Each investment reinforces what makes Little Rock a unique platform for growth: rail, river, road, and runway coming together in one place. We are primed and poised for substantial growth, and this partnership helps us make the most of it.”

Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde said, “This may be a relatively short stretch of road, but what it connects us to is enormous. It will provide access to more than 1,000 new jobs, open the door to more than $1 billion in private investment, and make the Port of Little Rock even more attractive to businesses looking for a place to grow. Economic development does not happen by accident. It happens when people come together around a shared vision and keep moving it forward, and I’m proud to be part of the team here in Pulaski County that has worked to turn that vision into reality. I want to thank Congressman Hill, Mayor Scott, Bryan Day, Jay Chesshir, and all of our state and local partners who have helped make this possible.”

Little Rock Port Authority Executive Director Bryan Day said, “Economic development is a complex and competitive process. The construction of this road allows the Port of Little Rock to be more competitive and to be better prepared to attract industry from around the world. We are grateful to Congressman Hill and Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde for their support of the Economic Development Administration grant. Roads are critical to job growth, and this project will see significant returns in the not-too-distant future.”

Little Rock Regional Chamber CEO Jay Chesshir said, “Industrial-grade access to new and existing sites creates more quality jobs, capital investment and increased revenues for local government and school districts. Without this required infrastructure, companies choose to build elsewhere. Today’s announcement is a great example of the teamwork it takes to invest in our future. Thank you to Representative French Hill for championing this grant to help fund the infrastructure. Our dedicated economic development team, led by County Judge Barry Hyde and Mayor Frank Scott, continues to produce success for the betterment of our citizens.”

Background

The $4.5 million grant was awarded to Pulaski County through EDA’s Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental program. The total project cost is approximately $5.6 million.

Rep. Hill has worked with local, state, and federal partners for more than a decade to expand the Port of Little Rock’s infrastructure and economic development capacity. Those efforts have included federal investments to expand dock and rail capacity, improve road infrastructure, expand barge fleeting capacity, and increase freight rail capacity.

Rep. Hill also worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and local leaders to relocate the VOR navigation facility that had restricted development south of the Port. Its relocation opened nearly 900 additional acres for future industrial development, positioning the Port to compete for major new investments.