Arkansas communities have received more than $8.8 million in grants today from programs administered through the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).
Seventy-eight communities around Arkansas have been awarded funds from four different AEDC programs. These programs include the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Grant Program (ACEDP), Rural Services Block Grants, Rural Community Grants, and County Fair Building Grants.
In total, the AEDC awarded $8,888,709.71 in community grants.
The largest portion of the grant funds came from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Grant Program (ACEDP), providing $7,549,432 to 29 communities and counties. ACEDP funding is designed for communities and counties with populations under 50,000 with a low to moderate income population of at least 51 percent or for projects targeted at specific eligible demographics. The funds are sourced from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The majority of the ACEDP projects are focused on water projects, ranging from water rehabilitation to water tanks to drainage. There are 17 water-related projects, four children center projects, three street/sidewalk projects, a public health clinic project, a public library project, a cultural center project, a homeless shelter and a senior center project.
See the full list below:
Arkansas Community and Economic Development Grant Program
- City of Altheimer – $180,848 – Streets
- City of Batesville – $128,200 – Childcare Center
- Benton County – $200,000 – Water Rehab
- Calhoun County – $729,390 – Water Extension
- City of Caraway – $200,000 – Water Project
- Town of Coal Hill – $196,471 – Public Health Clinic
- City of Corning – $192,500 – Drainage
- City of De Queen – $200,000 – Water Tank
- City of Earle – $200,000 – Streets
- City of Eureka Springs – $200,000 – Wastewater
- City of Foreman – $200,000 – Wastewater
- Fulton County – $1,000,000 – Water Extension
- City of Huntsville – $200,000 – Water Tank
- Johnson County – $143,005 – Child Development Center
- City of Leslie – $132,000 – Sidewalks
- Town of Louann – $200,000 – Water Rehab
- Lonoke County – $200,000 – Child Advocacy Center
- Madison County – $1,000,000 – Water Extension
- City of Magnolia – $200,000 – Water Rehab
- City of McCrory – $176,100 – Public Library
- City of Ogden – $166,000 – Water Project
- City of Osceola – $144,992 – Cultural Center
- City of Paragould – $200,000 – Homeless Shelter
- Polk County – $159,939 – Senior Center
- City of Prescott – $199,987 – Water Rehab
- City of Reyno – $200,000 – Water Rehab
- City of Ward – $200,000 – Wastewater Rehab
- White County – $200,000– Child Safety Center
- City of Wynne – $200,000 – Wastewater Rehab
Fifteen communities and counties were awarded a total of $997,115.16 under the Rural Services Block Grant program. These monies, also funded through the CDBG program, are intended to aid the “construction or renovation of community centers, fire stations, or multi-purpose buildings, and the purchase of fire trucks (pumper, tanker, brush or certain service trucks) and fire-fighting equipment,” according to the AEDC. Funding is up to $75,000 with a required match of 10 percent. Funding through the Rural Services Block Grant program is limited to incorporated towns and communities with populations under 3,000 with the population at least 51 percent low to moderate income.
See the full list below:
Rural Services Block Grant Program
- Emerson – $75,000
- Evansville – $75,000
- Guion – $43,283
- Hampton – $75,000
- Huntington – $42,345
- Huttig – $74,664
- Marked Tree – $67,500
- Mt. Judea – $75,000
- Nevada County – $75,000
- Sidney – $75,000
- Sparkman – $70,000
- St. Paul – $75,000
- Stephens – $71,895
- Swifton – $29,851
- Washington – $72,577.16
Twenty-eight communities received a total of $318,505 through the Rural Community Grant Program in order to fund projects including community parks, trails, fire stations and equipment and community centers. Applicants are required to be incorporated towns with a population under 3,000 or an unincorporated area.
See the full list below:
Rural Community Grant Program
- Arkana – $6,171
- Bay – $15,000
- Bono – $15,000
- Briarcliff – $15,000
- Colt – $4,941
- Compton Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000
- Enola – $12,975
- Galatia – $15,000
- Humnoke – $5,000
- Jasper – $15,000
- Jessieville Volunteer Fire Department – $12,000
- Johnson County Rural Fire District #1 – $15,000
- Laneburg Fire Department – $14,237.50
- Lincoln County – $15,000
- Lone Rock Fire Protection District – $10,000
- Mulberry Fire Department – $15,000
- Oak Prairie Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000
- Oil Trough – $13,205
- Omaha Rural Fire Department – $15,000
- Pangburn Fire Department – $15,000
- Shirley – $13,668
- South Carroll County Fire District – $14,988.50
- Sulphur Rock – $997
- Tollette – $1,572
- Watalula Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000
- Williford Volunteer Fire Department – $6,500
- Winslow – $2,000
- Yellville – $5,250
The final funding source is the County Fair Building Grant program, which provided $23,657.55 to six counties. Through the program, county fair associations in counties with a population of 55,000 or less are allowed to apply for up to $4,000 annually.
See the full list below:
County Fair Building Grant Program
- Baxter County – $4,000
- Cleburne County – $4,000
- Fulton County – $3,657.55
- Hot Spring County – $4,000
- Izard County – $4,000
- Searcy County – $4,000
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