Pulaski County, Shorter College receive federal economic development grants

Pulaski County and Shorter College in North Little Rock are getting $4.3 million in federal funds to support business growth and workforce development, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday.

The Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration is providing grants of:

• $3 million for Pulaski County to extend rail service at the Port of Little Rock in support of Trex Company Inc.’s manufacturing campus. Trex announced plans in October 2021 to build a $400 million plant on 290 acres it purchased from the port. The Virginia-based company makes outdoor decking and other products from recycled material. The project is expected to create 542 jobs and generate $397 million in private investment, according to the county’s estimates. The state is providing $952,690 in matching funds.
• $1.3 million for Shorter College for development of its Entrepreneurial Technology Center to prepare students for in-demand jobs in the region. The project will be matched with $600,000 in local funds and is expected to create 864 jobs, according to the college’s estimates. Shorter previously shared a $13 million U.S. Department of Education grant with the University of Arkansas’ Global Campus to create technology innovation hubs in Central and Northwest Arkansas.