Over $11.9 million in funding to Arkansas cities, counties, and communities

City of Washington, Hempstead County, $15,000.00, new tractor

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission have awarded more than $11.9 million in funding to Arkansas cities, counties, and communities.

Governor Sanders joined AEDC officials to present the grants during an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Conference Room in Little Rock on Thursday. Representatives from the Arkansas communities attended to accept the grant awards. Sixty-five grants were awarded across the three programs.

“In Arkansas, strong communities are the foundation of our success,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Grants awarded through AEDC’s Division of Rural Services and the Grants Division help communities provide needed resources, equipment, and services that keep our communities strong and healthy.”

There were a combined 36 grants, totaling $11,546,309.95, awarded from the Community Development Block Grant programs. The grants were awarded under the General Assistance and Rural Services Block Grant set-asides, part of Arkansas’s $17.48 million 2024 formula grant allocation, which is designed to provide communities the opportunity to apply for a variety of non-housing public facility and public infrastructure projects. These funds originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) State Program for Small Cities.

An additional 29 grants totaling $371,252.77 were awarded through the State’s Rural Community Grant Program.

In the area:

Rural Community Grants

City of Washington, Hempstead County, $15,000.00, new tractor (Picture above)

City of Antoine, Pike County, $9,000.00, community center electrical system

Murfreesboro FD, Pike County, $15,000.00, new SCBAs

General Assistance Block Grants

Nashville, Howard County, $500,000.00, wastewater treatment facility improvements

Rural Services Block Grant

Lafayette County, $100,000.00, fire equipment

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State CDBG funds are utilized for a variety of public facility and public infrastructure projects, including senior centers; childcare centers; public health facilities; youth centers; residential water and wastewater; street, curb, gutter, sidewalk, or storm sewer; and flood control and drainage projects; as well as towards economic development grants incentivizing the location or expansion of jobs in the state. Funds are awarded on an annual basis with counties and municipalities also allocating resources to meet urgent needs and benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

The Rural Services Block Grant program funds new construction or renovation of community centers, fire stations, or multi-purpose buildings, as well as the purchase of fire trucks (pumper, tanker, brush, or certain service trucks) and fire equipment. Applicants from incorporated towns of less than 3,000 in population and unincorporated rural areas with low to moderate incomes of 51 percent or higher are eligible for up to $100,000 in funds under the program with a 10 percent match.

The Rural Community Grant Program is used to fund projects such as fire trucks, fire protection equipment, community centers, storm sirens, community parks, walking trails, and baseball fields. Applicants from incorporated towns of less than 3,000 in population and unincorporated rural areas are eligible for up to $15,000 in 50/50 matching funds under the program.