(Monday, February 16, 2026) LITTLE ROCK — Recently enacted federal legislation is sending more than $105 million to institutions and divisions within the University of Arkansas System for a variety of projects ranging from maternal health initiatives to a state-of-the-art workforce training center on the Arkansas River.

Congressionally directed appropriations championed by U.S. Sen. John Boozman were approved Feb. 2.

“Arkansans deserve to have their hard-earned tax dollars reinvested in their communities to help improve health outcomes including robust support for maternal and infant care, increase economic opportunity, and transform critical infrastructure,” Boozman said. “I am proud to have secured funding that would meet these critical needs throughout the state.”

Among the $105 million awarded across the UA System is $40 million to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for a variety of programs, including several targeting Arkansas’ high rates of infant and maternal mortality; $30 million to the UA System Division of Agriculture (UADA) to support the construction of a new Center of Excellence for Food Science and Innovation in Fayetteville; $20 million awarded to UA – Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) for a modern workforce training venue at the Port of Little Rock; and $15 million to UA Fort Smith (UAFS) to construct and equip a state-of-the-art Center for Mother and Infant Healthcare aimed at improving outcomes for mothers and infants in the River Valley.

“The bottom line is that these are all extremely important projects to the future of Arkansans, and we’re incredibly grateful for Sen. Boozman’s support of our vision to improve lives in communities across Arkansas,” said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. “You can honestly say that because of this commitment, lives are going to be changed and futures are going to be brighter. The campuses, divisions and units within the UA System are highly geared toward being responsive to the needs of their region and aligned with the overall goals of the state, and these projects all reflect an innovative, collaborative spirit that’s going to make a tangible difference soon.”

UAMS
Among the projects receiving a federal boost at UAMS is the Arkansas Center for Women and Infants’ Health, a proactive call center that coordinates efforts across the state to reduce infant and maternal mortality and recently began calling postpartum mothers across Arkansas to ensure that they and their babies are off to a healthy start. The center also partners with hospitals statewide to provide moms with an “I Gave Birth Bracelet” so all medical providers can be aware of the mother’s needs in a medical emergency. Read more about other renovations and upgrades planned to benefit from the funding.

UADA
UA System Division of Agriculture plans to spend its federal funds in support of the construction of a new Center of Excellence for Food Science and Innovation in Fayetteville. The planned, two-story building will house specialized laboratories supporting research across food science disciplines, along with space designed for community engagement. The approximately 62,000-square-foot facility is nearing design completion by Arkansas firm WER Architects, and the two-year construction process is expected to begin this summer. Read more about the impact this new funding will have on the future of UADA.

UA-PTC
UA – Pulaski Tech was awarded funds for a project in partnership with the Little Rock Regional Chamber and Little Rock Port Authority to build a state-of-the-art workforce training center at the Port of Little Rock. This transformational center will be designed to expand skilled talent pipelines and support the growing manufacturing and logistics industries in Central Arkansas. UA-PTC will construct the state-of-the-art workforce training venue adjacent to the Little Rock Port Authority offices. The facility is designed to be expandable. Read more about the center that will support workforce training programs that elevate income opportunities for Arkansans at the Port of Little Rock and across central Arkansas.

UAFS
UA Fort Smith has dedicated its $15 million in federal funding to construct and equip a state-of-the-art Center for Mother and Infant Healthcare, which will support the development of high-fidelity simulation labs and educational spaces on the ground floor of a new facility aimed at improving outcomes for mothers and infants in the River Valley. The center will be the first phase of a larger, nearly $30 million, capital project supporting a comprehensive Center for Health Innovation. Read more about UAFS’ efforts to address Arkansas having the highest maternal mortality rate and other daunting statistics this program will address, and to see what the new facility will look like.