U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $600,000 to Support Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Efforts in Lonoke, Arkansas

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $600,000 grant to the Arkansas Association of Development Organizations Inc., in Lonoke, Arkansas, to support disaster recovery and resiliency efforts in the region.

This grant will provide technical and long-term disaster recovery assistance in Arkansas counties affected by tornadoes in December 2021. This EDA investment will be matched with $160,000 in local funds.

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support disaster recovery and resiliency that gets their communities and economies back on their feet,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs Cristina Killingsworth. “This EDA investment will provide economic and technical assistance needed to help the region continue its recovery from devastating tornadoes while building resiliency to limit the impact of future disasters.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District (CAPDD) and the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District (SWAPDD). EDA funds CAPDD and SWAPDD 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.

This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.