$1 million grant

The City of Berryville will receive $1 million in grant funding from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to upgrade and expand the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, the AEDC and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced last week.

Berryville is among 22 recipients of AEDC grants totaling $25 million. The infrastructure improvements will ensure sufficient water and sewer capacity to support increased demand and continued growth within the city’s business park.

“We greatly appreciate AEDC’s partnership in providing funding to expand our business park infrastructure through this grant. We also thank the City Council for its vision, support and forward-thinking approach to economic development,” Berryville Mayor Tim McKinney said in a news release.

McKinney and Dean Lee, the city’s economic development director, accepted the grant during a ceremony in Little Rock.

“Special recognition goes to Dean for securing two grants over the past two years and for building the strong relationships that help make this funding possible,” McKinney said. “In fact, one long-time AEDC official recently told us we’re the poster child on how to successfully market and promote a business park.”

The communities receiving Arkansas Site Development Program funds include Berryville, Bentonville, Bradley County, Conway, De Queen, El Dorado, England, Grant County, Hempstead County, Hot Spring County, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jefferson County, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Mississippi County, Newport, Pocahontas, Prescott, Russellville, Searcy and Stuttgart.

“Every success story starts with a strong foundation, and the Arkansas Site Development Program helps communities build the groundwork essential to keep attracting businesses to our state,” Sanders said in the news release.  “From company-ready sites to our low-income taxes and pro-business environment, Arkansas is creating the framework for business success, driving economic growth, and expanding opportunity for generations to come.”

First announced in June 2024 the Arkansas Site Development Program was developed by AEDC with the support of  Sanders and the Arkansas General Assembly.  In this first round of the Arkansas Site Development Program, AEDC awarded $10 million to 13 Arkansas Communities in December 2024.  Another round of funding totaling $25 million will be awarded in Fiscal Year 2027.  The City of Berryville received a $400,000 allotment from the initial site development program in 2024 and another $1 million in this year’s round of grants.

“We’re grateful to Gov. Sanders and AEDC for recognizing the needs within our business park and investing in its future,” Lee said. “Their support reflects confidence in the foundation we’ve built and the long-term potential of this project. This investment positions our site to be fully shovel-ready, and we look forward to expanded growth in the business park as it continues to develop.”

To qualify for the program, applicants must have an industrial site of at least 30 contiguous acres of land listed on the Arkansas Site Selection Database and owned or optioned by the applicant. Eligible applicants include cities and counties, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

“The Arkansas Site Development Program is an investment in the long-term growth of our state,” said Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Sanders and the Arkansas General Assembly, the state is partnering with 22 Arkansas communities to take measurable steps and create the conditions necessary to become more economically competitive and win projects. Arkansas is among the top states for its economic outlook, and this program positions us for even greater success in the future, leading to better outcomes for Arkansans and businesses in the state.”

AEDC received 29 applications for the latest round of the Arkansas Site Development Program, totaling $73,891,055 in requests.

“The Arkansas Site Development Program is focused on helping local communities compete and win economic development projects,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Congratulations to the award recipients – the work we do today developing sites will lead to more and better job opportunities for Arkansans in the coming years.”

The funds can be used for a range of site development projects, including the extension and improvements of public infrastructure to the site; right of way acquisition; easement acquisition; soil borings and analysis; construction costs for site improvements, including drainage improvements, easement, dozer or dirt work, grading, site mitigation, and site rehabilitation; due diligence study costs; and other site development-related activities deemed necessary by AEDC to improve a site’s competitiveness.