NEW MADRID COUNTY PORT GIVEN GRANT OF $300,000

NEW MADRID - A $300,000 grant requested by the New Madrid County Port Authority has been approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, State Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, announced.

"The grant will help with construction of a dock and road access to the dock," said Howard. "As a result of the construction, the Louis Dreyfus Corp. plans to expand their rice mill."

Without a dock, the mill had to bulk-load barges through a long tube. Lack of a dock forced the mill to ship rice all the way to Louisiana to be bagged.

Once the dock is constructed, rice will be bagged locally. Dreyfus will also enlarge its milling operation because of the grant, which should add approximately 35 jobs.

"The new access will also help more businesses ship riverside in the future, and that can lead to new opportunities and economic growth," Howard explained.

The senator praised local officials who worked hard to receive approval for the grant.