Arkansas Waterways Commission awards nearly $700,000 to public ports

The Arkansas Waterways Commission has awarded more than $698,000 in funding to three public ports through the Arkansas Port, Intermodal, and Waterways Grant Program.

According to a news release, the Arkansas Port, Intermodal and Waterways Grant program will reinvest the ad valorem tax paid by industries on the value of the commodities shipped via Arkansas’ navigable waterways.

The grant provides money for the ports and intermodal authorities to make significant improvements and assist much-needed dredging projects, the release said.

“Continuous maintenance and improvement of our ports is crucial in ensuring our state’s ongoing economic health,” said Arkansas Waterways Commission Director, Cassandra Caldwell. “We are pleased to once again facilitate the flow of these tax dollars back into the infrastructure of Arkansas’ waterways.”

The CY2023 Arkansas Port Intermodal and Waterways Grant awardees include:

• Chicot-Desha Metropolitan Port Authority/Yellow Bend Port- awarded $192,000,
• Helena-West Helena/Phillips County Port Authority- awarded $287,613,
• Osceola Port Authority- awarded $218,700.