ROGERS, Ark. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded the World Trade Center Arkansas a $592,357 grant to promote export expansion, job growth and job retention in 57 Arkansas counties affected by natural disasters. The grant is expected to spur an estimated $5 million in private investment, create 10,000 new jobs and help retain 350,000 jobs in Arkansas supported by international trade.

“We commend the World Trade Center Arkansas for helping to create economic opportunity through the promotion of international trade and business,” said Dennis Alvord, deputy assistant secretary for regional development at the Economic Development Administration. “This project will help expand Trade Center programs to help diversify the state’s economy.”

Trish Watkins, assistant director of grants and finance for the World Trade Center Arkansas, said the center will utilize the money to help Arkansas businesses and agricultural producers expand their foreign market access.

“We can also use the funds for trade missions, educational seminars, market research and to enhance our consultation services that we provide to Arkansas companies,” she said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared dozens of Arkansas counties to be federally recognized disaster zones on multiple occasions due to weather such as tornadoes and flooding since 2011.

Small businesses make up 80 percent of all Arkansas exporters and the state’s largest exports are agricultural goods and aerospace products. Many of the regions that were declared disaster zones rely heavily on agriculture as their primary economic driver.

“This grant allows us to provide a great resource to Arkansas companies, especially small businesses, that have been burdened by disaster recovery,” said Dan Hendrix, president and chief executive officer of the World Trade Center Arkansas. “This is an incredible investment in our state, and we are extremely grateful to the EDA for this opportunity.”

For more information about the grant and how it will be used to promote the exports of Arkansas companies, contact Watkins at plwatki@uark.edu.

About the Economic Development Administration: The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration 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 makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

About the World Trade Center Arkansas: The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. The Center is part of the University of Arkansas and serves as the trade promotion arm for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.