Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Make Critical Roadway Improvements in Texarkana, Arkansas

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
July 15, 2016

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1 million grant to the city of Texarkana, Ark., to improve drainage for the U of A Way road structure.

“Ensuring that our communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive is a key priority for the Economic Development Administration,” said Secretary Pritzker. “This EDA grant will facilitate necessary improvements to Texarkana’s U of A Way that will spur commercial development in the region.”

During heavy rainfall, the pooling of water from Lake Dieffenbacher and the detention pond on University of Arkansas property has caused flooding problems on local roads as well as in Bobby Ferguson Park and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The EDA investment will help to improve the drainage system that has undermined the integrity of the U of A Way road structure.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. To learn more about EDA, visit www.eda.gov.