This $2,000,000 EDA caresact investment will help the city of wynne is for the construction of a new industrial rail spur facility in wynne, AR to support the industries in the area

This $2.5 million project grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's Economic Adjustment Assistance program will fund the construction of a new industrial rail spur facility in Wynne, Arkansas. The rail spur will support local manufacturers by improving transportation of goods and allowing alternative means of transport if future economic disruptions occur. It is expected to generate 200 jobs and $2 million in private investment. The City of Wynne will oversee construction of the rail spur to benefit multiple local manufacturers in the surrounding area. This investment aligns with regional economic development planning by the East Arkansas Planning and Development District, which receives EDA funding to coordinate public-private partnerships strengthening the regional economy. The award date for this infrastructure project was October 14, 2021.

During the pandemic, IT became apparent that the ongoing transportation of goods was key to keep the economy moving by distributing supplies for manufacturing as well as immediate needs. This project will allow for better transportation in the area and is being designed to benefit multiple local manufactures in the surrounding area. Not only will the project have an immediate economic development impacts in the area, IT will also be beneficial in the event of similar economic disruptions by providing alternative means of transportation for manufactured and processed goods at various locations in the wynne and surrounding area. This project is anticipated to create 200 jobs and generate private investment. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the east arkansas planning and development district (eapdd). EDA funds eapdd 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.