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(Washington, D.C.) Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark) Tuesday congratulated
the Magnolia Training Center and the Southwest Planning and Development
District Office for being awarded a $1.4 million grant by the Economic
Development Administration. The grant was awarded following an economic
development tour Ross organized for Region Six Administrator Pedro Garza
and Magnolia area leaders in January of 2004.
“I am very pleased that the Economic Development Administration has
awarded the Magnolia Training Center and the Southwest Planning and Development
District Office $1.4 million – a grant that is incredibly needed and that
will be a huge boon to the Magnolia-area region,” said Ross. “The funding
will be used to construct the training center and to expand the functional
role of the planning and development district offices.
“When I was elected to serve the citizens of Arkansas's Fourth District,
I promised I would be a ‘hands-on’ Congressman and an economic ambassador
for our district. I continued my pledge last January, when I brought
Region Six EDA Administrator Pedro Garza to Magnolia so that he could visit
with area leadership and view the Magnolia Industrial Park first-hand.
Clearly, he was impressed! And he should be – the Magnolia Training Center
will play an integral role with the Southwest Planning and Development
District Office to expand the economic development potential of the greater
Magnolia region. Together, they will work with industries to effectively
identify ways to improve and enhance the area labor force, which will ultimately
attract new industries and bring new jobs to the area.”
Ross also recognized the hard work of Magnolia Mayor Lane Jean, Economic
Developer for Magnolia and Columbia County Mike Juniker, and Terry Sherwood,
who is the Executive Director of the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development
District, for their hard work and leadership on such a needed economic
development project.
“The hard work of the Mayor, Mike, Terry, and the rest of the Magnolia-area
leadership made the possibility of this grant a reality,” said Ross.
“Congressman Ross’s initiative and his commitment to the economic development
of this region was a huge factor in us receiving this grant, and I am incredibly
grateful for all of his support and his efforts,” said Sherwood. “He went
out of his way to convince Mr. Garza to travel to Magnolia to get a first-hand
look at the needs of our region, which definitely increased our chances
for receiving this funding. The Economic Development Administration’s grant
is an excellent investment for our area, and I know I can speak on behalf
of the Magnolia community for thanking Congressman Ross for all he has
done.”
Last January, Ross and Garza visited projects that had been funded or
had applied for EDA funding in Hot Springs, Texarkana, Warren, Arkadelphia,
Magnolia and Pine Bluff. The Economic Development Administration is divided
into six regions across the country. Mr. Garza’s jurisdiction includes
Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. |
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