Three Arkansas ports to receive over US$1.9 million in grant awards for facility improvements

The Arkansas state government and the Arkansas Waterways Commission (AWC) has awarded three ports over US$1.9 million in funding under the 2022 Arkansas Port, Intermodal and Waterway Development Grant program.

The recipients include the Helena-West Helena/Phillips County Port Authority, the Osceola Port Authority, and the West Memphis-Crittenden County Port Authority. Upgrade works at the ports include replacement of aging cargo handling equipment, replacement of existing mooring facilities to mitigate upstream debris, and strengthening of dock substructures.

The AWC said the West Memphis-Crittenden County Port Authority received US$1 million, the largest grant award in commission history. The commission added that the funding will help correct an eddy issue that has been inhibiting consistently reliable dock operations at the port.