AEDC Rural Development awards 54 grants totaling $735,516

As part of the annual Arkansas Economic Development Commission Rural Development Conference, Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented grants totaling $735,516.23 to 54 Arkansas cities and counties at a ceremony held today at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The grants fall into one of three programs: the Rural Community Grant Program, the County Fair Building Grant Program, and the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Grant Program. All require a 50 percent matching grant to be eligible for the programs.

A total of $353,727.64 was awarded to 33 cities and counties under the Rural Community Grant Program to fund projects such as baseball fields, community parks, walking trails, community center, fire stations, fire trucks and other fire protection-related equipment. Applicants from incorporated towns of less than 3,000 in population and unincorporated rural areas are eligible for up to $15,000 in matching funds under the program. 

A total of $50,609.59 was awarded to 14 counties under the County Fair Building Grant Program. Under the program, county fairs located in counties with a population of less than 55,000 are eligible for up to $4,000 per fiscal year for construction, renovation or general improvements of buildings or purchase of items shown to directly improve the building or the services that the county fair association may provide.

Seven counties received a total of $331,179.00 under the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Grant Program to improve roads with a reduced negative environmental impact on priority water resources. The program focuses on best management practices that reduce the impact of sediment and road runoff to streams, rivers, and drinking water supplies while reducing long term unpaved county road maintenance costs.

Rural Community Grant Program

Big Flat, $13,301.50
Fairfield Bay, $6,355.72
Greers Ferry, $15,000
Harrisburg, $15,000
Hazen, $15,000
Lamar, $11,475
Leachville, $13,704.80
Mansfield, $9,672.51
Marshall, $15,000
Moro, $5,696
Mount Pleasant, $11,844
Palestine, $15,000
Perryville, $15,000
Rector, $10,383.98
Star City, $7,875
Tontitown, $15,000
Benton County, $8.005.34
Cleveland County, $15,000
Drew County, $15,000
Franklin County, $3,094.38
Johnson County, $3,132.50
Lawrence County, $14,250
Lincoln County, $2,702
Pike County, $3,424.23
Saline County, $15,000
Searcy County, $8,877.50
White County, $15,000

County Fair Building Grant Program

Columbia County, $4,000
Conway County, $3,442.50
North Franklin County, $4,000
Grant County, $4,000
Greene County, $4,000
Hot Spring County, $3,012.09
Johnson County, $2,350
Madison County, $4,000
Montgomery County, $3,325
Nevada County, $2,480
Prairie County, $4,000
Scott County, $4,000
Searcy County, $4,000
Union County, $4,000

Arkansas Unpaved Roads Grant Program

Benton County, $45,922
Calhoun County, $64,940
Greene County, $20,000
Lawrence County, $30,000
Polk County, $20,686
Stone County, $74,631
Washington County, $75,000