Monticello Live

Last week, the first project of the Intermodal Facility, it’s access road, was dedicated in a public ceremony, attended by more that 50 business and political leaders and representatives from around the area.

The intermodal facility, set up under act 690 of 1999, is designed to unite regional entities, like the cities of Monticello and Warren and Drew and Bradley Counties, to work together to facilitate economic development.

The most important phrases included in the ceremony were “team effort” and “persistence and patience.”

John Lipton, chairman of the intermodal facility board, was not aware until the dedication that the access road was being named in his honor.

The full project encompasses 354 acres.

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representative Mike Ross have announced that the Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Authority, made up of the Cities of Monticello and Warren, and Drew and Bradley Counties, will receive a $1.9 million grant from the Economic Development Administration under the U.S. Department of Commerce to construct water and sewer infrastructure for a new industrial park outside Monticello. 

The funds will be used to construct water and sewer infrastructure for the new industrial park, which will support new and expanding industries. The project is expected to create 40 jobs and leverage $5 million in private investment. (more…)

It was announced at a recent Intermodal Authority meeting,  that SeaArk Marine has agreed to sign a “letter of intent” with the intermodal authority, which may eventually lead to the Monticello boat manufacturer re-locating to the new industrial site, just west of Monticello, across from the sports complex.

The intermodal authority has applied for a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and one of the requirement for further consideration is a promisory “letter of intent” from an industry that would become a part of the facility. This part of the process of finalizing the grant process will hopefully lead to funding by EDA. (more…)