Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 11 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, FACILITIES, AND AUTHORITIES (§§ 14-184-101 — 14-188-122) › Chapter 186 - HARBORS AND PORT FACILITIES GENERALLY (§§ 14-186-101 — 14-186-417) › Subchapter 2 - MUNICIPAL PORT AUTHORITIES (§§ 14-186-201 — 14-186-215) › Section 14-186-204 - Authority - Purposes

(a)
The authority may be created to accomplish the following general purposes:
(1)
To establish, acquire, develop, improve, or maintain harbors, ports, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, parks for industrial and commercial operations, and related improvements and facilities in or near any city or town in the State of Arkansas as it may deem feasible for the expeditious and efficient handling of commerce, by water, roadway, highway, air, or other, from and to any other part of the State of Arkansas or any other states and foreign countries;
(2)
To acquire, purchase, construct, install, equip, lease, maintain, own, hold, develop, use, control, and improve lands and facilities of whatever nature necessary or desirable in connection with the establishing, developing, improving, and maintaining the ports, harbors, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, and parks for industrial and commercial operations, including, without limitation, buildings, warehouses, utilities, and the improvement of portions of waterways, highways or roadways, and other facilities not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government;
(3)
To foster and stimulate the shipment of freight and commerce, by water, roadway, highway, air, or other, and industrial and commercial development at and through the ports, harbors, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, parks for industrial and commercial operations and industries, and businesses located on them, whether originating within or without the State of Arkansas, including the investigation, handling, and dealing with matters pertaining to all transportation rates and rate structures affecting them.
(4)
To cooperate with the federal government, the State of Arkansas, and any agency, department, corporation, or instrumentality of either of them in the development, improvement, maintenance, and use of the harbors, ports, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, parks for industrial and commercial operations and industries, and businesses located in them in connection with the furtherance of the operation and needs of the United States, the State of Arkansas, the city or town, and any such industry or business;
(5)
To accept funds from any sources and to use them in such manner, within the purposes of the authority, as shall be stipulated by the source from which received, and
(6)
To act as agent or instrumentality of the city or incorporated town in any matter coming within the general purposes of the authority;
(7)
To act as agent for the federal government or any agency, department, corporation, or instrumentality of it, and for the State of Arkansas and any agency, department, instrumentality, or political subdivision of it, in any matter coming within the purposes or powers of the authority;
(8)
To acquire, construct, equip, maintain, develop, and improve facilities at the ports, harbors, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, and parks for industrial and commercial operations to secure and develop industry, business, and commerce.
(9)
To sell, lease, contract concerning, or permit the use of all, or any part, of the facilities so acquired, constructed, and equipped to any person for industrial or commercial activities;
(10)
In general, to do and perform any act or function which may tend to or be useful toward the development and improvement of harbors, ports, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, and parks for industrial and commercial operations and to further the movement of waterborne and other forms of commerce, foreign and domestic, through the harbors, ports, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, and parks for industrial and commercial operations.
(b)
The enumeration of these purposes shall not limit or circumscribe the broad objectives of developing to the utmost the port and industrial and commercial development possibilities of the State of Arkansas.
Acts 1947, No. 167, § 2; 1983, No. 622, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 19-2721.