Fort Smith Regional Chamber Of Commerce: News Release: UFL Selects Fort Smith As Winners Of Technical Assistance Program - 7/19/2021

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce:

July 19, 2021

We are pleased to share the University of Washington Urban Freight Lab’s announcement regarding Frontier MPO’s winning proposal.
The announcement is now live:  http://depts.washington.edu/sctlctr/news-events/announcements/winners-selected-TAP  
 
The winners are:
Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) and transportation planning division Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in support of a Generating Opportunity for All (GOAL) Micro-Freight Hub Project. MPO, the City of Fort Smith, and local and tribal leaders envision a new way to conduct freight delivery and business within low-income and diverse neighborhoods in western Arkansas and in vulnerable communities across the nation. The GOAL micro-freight hub project will examine how incentive and business models can join these elements together and ultimately inform strategies, direct policies, and implement sustainable micro-freight hubs within impoverished and neglected neighborhoods. By connecting trusted social resources, shared micromobility, and micro-freight services, a community economy can potentially empower voiceless populations to prosper, succeed, and develop culturally relevant solutions to transportation, racial, and accessibility inequalities. 
 
"We are honored to receive this award since the overall goal of the effort will be to transform a low-income community in North Fort Smith," said Reese Brewer, MPO director. "Through the attention brought by this study, decision makers can begin the reallocation of funds to address infrastructure deficiencies resulting in new bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and secure mobility features. In a region with the highest rates of continued poverty, disability, and obesity, along with chronic transportation and accessibility issues in the nation, the GOAL micro-freight hub study will address transportation inequities in western Arkansas."

We are pleased to share the University of Washington Urban Freight Lab’s announcement regarding Frontier MPO’s winning proposal. Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) and transportation planning division Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Fort Smith, Arkansas Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) and transportation planning division Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Fort Smith, Arkansas Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) and transportation planning division Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Fort Smith, Arkansas

This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.