This $2,800,000 EDA cares act investment will assist the city of osceola in making the water and wastewater improvements necessary to support the growing steel industry

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the City of Osceola, Arkansas $3.75 million under the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program on September 29, 2021. The funding will support water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to accommodate increased capacity needs due to business expansion in the local steel industry and impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the EDA investment will assist Osceola in making upgrades to allow for an estimated 100 new jobs and $2 billion in private sector investment. The EDA EAA program aims to aid regions facing adverse economic changes, and this project aligns with regional economic development planning led by the East Arkansas Planning and Development District to strengthen the regional economy and support private capital investment.

The covid-19 outbreak has taxed the wastewater system as more residents have been home, causing IT to become dangerous and inhibiting planned industry growth. This project will provide the additional capacity needed to allow business expansion and result in an estimated 100 jobs and $2,000,000,000 in 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.