LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Officials say the Port of Little Rock has millions of dollars in investments that create thousands of jobs when companies come to the state, and now even more prospects could be on the way.
Bryan Day, the port’s director, said he is thankful for the city’s board of directors approval that $500,000 will go towards infrastructure improvements, specially targeted at Elopak and future businesses.
Earlier this year Elopak, an international food packaging company, broke ground at the port with its first U.S. production plant, investing $70 million in land, building and equipment. It is expected to generate 100 permanent jobs.
“One of the things we committed to Elopak was to help them extend their utilities,” Day said.
Day added that the funding will allow the port to build a larger water line “that Elopak will actually use.”
Day said the water line expansion will allow the port to extend it to future companies.
“What the city has allowed us to do is build a larger piece of infrastructure,” Day said. “It lays the groundwork for future investment, lays the groundwork for job growth, for new industry to locate here,” said Day.
He said the port connects the state’s waterways, airports, highways, and railways, generating a lot for the community.
“We generate the port as a whole as an industrial part, generating half a billion dollars to the local economy,” Day said. “Over the last 3 to 5 years, we have had almost a dozen announcements of new business expansion to existing businesses from all around the world.”
Day also says they plan to go to the city board in the coming weeks to buy more land for the infrastructure investment.