Arkansas county gets $2 million to clean up former Air Force base in Blytheville
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mississippi County, Arkansas, has reportedly received $2 million in federal funding to begin a clean-up effort at the former Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville.
According to a release sent Thursday, Congress approved the funding in March as a part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The project, titled “North End Clean Up”, is part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the base. The funding will reportedly go toward removing 238 abandoned duplexes, as well as disposing of “potential environment hazards” and clearing debris.
Mississippi County leaders pass resolution to reactivate air force base
U.S. Representative Rick Crawford released a statement Thursday.
“The Arkansas Aeroplex has vast potential, and this clean-up project is a critical next step in unlocking that future growth through redevelopment efforts. As a former federal military base, there are numerous structures containing hazardous materials, and the federal government has a responsibility to assist with improvement efforts. With this project underway, Mississippi County is on target to attract new businesses and investment opportunities, further bolstering economic growth in a region already known to be the largest steel-producing county in the United States.”
In October 2023, the Mississippi County Quorum Court passed a resolution supporting the reactivation of the base, now known as the Arkansas Aeroplex.
Mississippi County Judge John Nelson said the county was also working with lobbyists in Washington.
“We appreciate the leadership of Congress, specifically Rep. Rick Crawford and Sen. John Boozman, in approving this funding,” Nelson said in a statement. “The Arkansas Aeroplex is already a growing and vital piece of our economic development strategy, and the federal funding ensures that this work continues to propel us into the future.”
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