The project will fund two components at helena harbor 1 the addition of a water tower to support industrial uses and firefighting systems in the port which will be built to withstand the seismic…

The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded $7,125,169 to Helena-West Helena–Phillips County Port Authority on May 4, 2026, under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (CFDA 20.823) to design, engineer, construct, and manage two infrastructure projects at Helena Harbor in West Helena, Arkansas.

The first component funds construction of an approximately 500,000-gallon painted steel multi-column elevated water tank with tank foundation, mixing and control systems, and a chlorinator, designed and engineered to withstand seismic impacts from the New Madrid Fault area and supporting industrial uses and firefighting systems in the port. The second component funds construction of an approximately 1.1-mile rail spur with new M10 steel ties and base fill connecting industrial park parcels on the east side of the port to the Helm Fertilizer Terminal and the North American rail network.

The award also funds design, engineering, testing, construction management, and project grant management activities. Performance extends through August 30, 2030, with work conducted at Helena Harbor in West Helena, Arkansas. Expected outcomes tracked include vessel calls per year (disaggregated by vessel type, freight capacity, and vessel length where applicable), cargo volume in TEUs moved by vessel per year, and cargo volume in gross tonnage of rail freight per year, all measured quarterly within the project study area. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

The project will fund two components at helena harbor 1 the addition of a water tower to support industrial uses and firefighting systems in the port which will be built to withstand the seismic impacts of an earthquake in the new madrid fault area and 2 the construction of a rail spur connecting parcels on the east side of the ports industrial park to the north american rail network. Activities to be performed the project includes engineering and construction management installation of a new water tower and the construction of a rail spur. The project will include the following components component 1 design and engineering testing construction management and project grant management component 2 water tower construction construction of a new approximately 500000 gallon painted steel multi column elevated water tank with a tank foundation mixing and control systems and a chlorinator. Component 3 rail extension construction construction of an approximately 1 1 mile 115 rail spur including new M10 steel ties and base fill extending to the helm fertilizer terminal which will connect the port to the north american rail network. Deliverables expected outcomes from schedule g page 9 of the grant agreement measure vessel calls. Category and description economic competitiveness total vessel calls per year. Measures the number of vessels calling to the project study area. Must be reported in total and disaggregated by any of the following where applicable vessel type EG container bulk RO RO LNG freight capacity vessel length or other. Measurement frequency quarterly. Measure cargo volume teus. Category and description economic competitiveness and opportunity the movement of containers in teus moved by vessel per year in the area defined by the project study area. Measurement frequency quarterly. Measure cargo volume rail. Category and description economic competitiveness the movement of gross tonnage of freight in the area defined by the project study area. Gross tons are defined as freight cargo minus tare weight of the rail cars. Measurement frequency quarterly. Intended beneficiary helena west helena phillips county port authority. Subrecipient activities none.