The Arkansas governor’s office announced the state is awarding $11.5 million in federal grant money for infrastructure projects in rural parts of the state, including some in the Northwest Arkansas.
Communities such as Norfork, Whelen Springs, Salem, Nashville and Oxford will receive around $500,000 each to improve their wastewater facilities. Mansfield will use its portion of the funding for sidewalk and crosswalk construction, while Franklin County plans to utilize the funds to renovate a disabled adults learning center.
The awards are a part of the Community Development Block Grant programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aimed at funding infrastructure programs that reduce blight in small cities and towns.
The $11.5 million the state announced it had allocated Thursday is part of the $17.48 million the state is entitled to under the federal funding formula for the program, according to a news release from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Under the program, only cities and counties with a population of fewer than 50,000 and where at least 51% of residents are considered to be low-to-moderate income can apply for up to $500,000 in a general assistance grant. Communities with a population under 3,000 with 51% of their residents being considered low-to-moderate income can apply for a rural services block grant worth up to $100,000, with a 10% match.
“From Norfork to McGehee to Horatio, Arkansans across the state deserve to live in safe, vibrant communities, and that’s why these grants are so important,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a news release announcing the grant funding. “Not only will this funding go towards critical infrastructure projects throughout the Natural State, but it will also fund community parks, walking trails, youth centers and more — projects that will improve residents’ quality of life and ensure our towns and cities are great places to call home.”
The AEDC determines what communities receive funding under the grant program after holding public meetings across the state to gather public input. The commission then publishes a draft plan on how it plans to distribute the federal grant funding, according to the AEDC’s website.
“These funds represent the State’s commitment to addressing critical needs while empowering our local partners to prioritize and enhance their own capacity,” Jean Noble, director of the Grants Division for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said in a news release. “With these CDBG investments, we are working strategically to foster a better standard of living across the more rural areas of the State.”
In addition to the funds awarded through the Community Development Block Grant program, the state announced $371,253 in funding from the Rural Community Grant Program, state funding that allow towns with fewer than 3,000 residents to apply for $15,000 in matching funds for infrastructure projects.
List of Northwest Arkansas communities receiving grant funding:
General Assistance Block Grants
Benton County, $1 million, water line extension
Farmington, Washington County, $396,392, senior center renovations
Rural Services Block Grants
Benton County, $66,750, roof renovation
City of Huntsville, Madison County, $88,853, equipment for special rescue team
Town of St. Paul, Madison County, $100,000, fire department substation construction
Rural Community Grants
Valley Springs Fire Department, Boone County, $15,000, turnout gear
Lincoln Fire Department, Washington County, $15,000, equipment and turnout gear
West Fork Fire Department, Washington County, $15,000, equipment replacement
