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State awards $2.1 million to ready Hot Springs’ Buddy Beam site for industry
Summary
Hot Springs staff said the Arkansas Economic Development Commission awarded $2.1 million to make the Buddy Beam site "shovel ready," funding environmental studies, engineering and dirt work aimed at attracting manufacturers; staff confirmed no pre‑purchase environmental study was commissioned.
City staff told the board that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission awarded $2,100,000 to make the Buddy Beam site shovel‑ready, funding environmental due diligence, engineering design and grading work intended to attract manufacturers.
Gary Trautman of the Hot Springs Metro Partnership described the award as the full amount requested. When the mayor asked what the grant would include, Trautman said he may ask a colleague who wrote most of the grant to present more detail, but confirmed that the award will fund environmental studies, site layout engineering and the actual dirt work necessary to render the site marketable.
Director Garcia asked whether an environmental study or floodplain information was prepared before the city purchased the land. Staff answered that no pre‑purchase environmental study was commissioned; city floodplain information is publicly available on the city GIS and staff will use the grant funds to complete required studies.
Staff emphasized the grant is designed to make the site “completely shovel ready as the term is in the industry,” including rebuilding a culvert and addressing floodplain constraints where necessary. The item was presented at the agenda meeting for formal action at the May 19 board meeting.
