Hope gets grant to aid development

A $1.2 million grant has been allocated to make improvements to the City of Hope, Ark., to help an industry in development of a cold storage facility, according to an announcement from Hope and the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation.

The City of Hope and the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) announced the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has agreed that a $1.2 million grant has been allocated to the city to aid an industry in development of a cold storage facility.

The funds will be used to make improvements to the City of Hope Industrial Rail Spur, located in the Hope Industrial Park. This project will directly benefit the following industries

in the Hope Industrial Park: New Millenium, Hexion, and Georgia Pacific (GP), who employ over 400 workers and will indirectly benefit JMS Metals, Inc. and Funder America.

The local share of funds for this project is provided by New Millenium, Hexion, GP, with a $100,000 contribution from the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation.

Hope Mayor Steve Montgomery was enthusiastic about the project and its effect on Hope and Hempstead County.

“I’m excited about obtaining this grant. This will give our existing industries that use rail service reliable rail service for future plans as well as help attract new industries that rail service is an integral part of their companies,” said Montgomery

Steve Harris, president of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation said, “The HCEDC is proud to be a part of this project for the benefit of our fine local industries. Hopefully this will help them remain competitive and continue to grow. A special thanks to SWAPDD ( Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District) in Magnolia for their perseverance in obtaining this federal grant for the City of Hope.”

This project will be bid in summer 2018 and should be completed in early 2019.