This EDA investment will allow little river county to construct fiber optic cable lines to bring broadband infrastructure to rural communities that have been heavily impacted by the covid-19 pandemic

The Economic Development Administration awarded a $2.5 million Project Grant to Little River County, Arkansas on September 16, 2021 under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307). The funding will support the construction of fiber optic cable lines to expand broadband infrastructure in rural communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once completed, the county will partner with service providers to improve regional access to high-speed internet services. This is expected to increase the region's economic competitiveness and attract and retain employers in target industries. The infrastructure project also impacts an existing Opportunity Zone and was made possible through regional planning by the Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District, which receives EDA funding to coordinate public-private economic development efforts.

The project is expected to make the region more resilient to future pandemics and natural disasters and increase the region's economic competitiveness through the deployment of new broadband service. Once constructed, the county will partner with service providers to improve regional access to high-speed service, and this is expected to have a significant impact on the county's ability to attract and retain employers in its target industries. The infrastructure is also expected to impact an existing opportunity zone, tract 05081030102, which lies within the construction zone. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the southwest arkansas planning & development district (swapdd). EDA funds swapdd to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.