Rural Services Awards Community Grants

AAC FEATURE AEDC Division of Rural Services awards $317,500 in community grants

Twenty-eight counties and communities receive monies.

Press Release by Division of Rural Services Arkansas Economic Development Commission

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Division of Rural Services has awarded community grants totaling more than $317,500 to 39 counties and communities across the state.

The Division of Rural Services originally intended to present these awards at the 2020 Arkansas Rural Development Conference scheduled to take place in Jonesboro [in May]. After careful consideration, AEDC canceled the annual conference due to restrictions and concerns caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“Although the it was a difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Arkansas Rural Development Conference, we are pleased to continue supporting our program participants by awarding grants totaling more than $317,500 to rural communities across the state,” Department of Commerce Secretary Mike Preston said.

The Division of Rural Services awarded Arkansas counties and communities a total of $317,571.78 through two grant programs: the Rural Community Grant Program and the County Fair Building Grant Program.

Twenty-eight counties and communities received a total of $276,379.56 through the Rural Community Grant program. Under this program, 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 for community development and fire protection projects.

The Division of Rural Services awarded 11 counties a total of $41,192.22 through the County Fair Building Grant Program. Under this program, county fairs located in counties with a population of less than 55,000 are eligible for up to $4,000 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.

Both the Rural Community Grant Program and the County Fair Building Grant Program require a 50 percent match for counties and communities to qualify.

The next cycle deadline for the Rural Community Grant Program and County Fair Building Grant Program begins Aug. 6, 2020. For more information about grants administered by AEDC, visit www.ArkansasEDC.com.

Rural Community Grant Recipients

• Antioch Fire Department — $15,000 • Barnes Rural Volunteer Fire Department — $4,877.50 • Brookland — $15,000 • Brown Grove Volunteer Fire Department — $7,500 • Columbia County — $15,000 • Cotter-Gassville Rural Fire Protection District — $12,993.34 • DeGray Volunteer Fire Department — $1,628.50 • Dutch Creek Volunteer Fire Department — $4,000 • Elkins — $15,000 • Gilbert — $9,000 • Highland — $4,918 • Hindsville — $10,000 • Holiday Island — $15,000 • Hunter Fire Department — $3,254.03 • Hwy 35 South Volunteer Fire Department — $10,530 • Lavaca Fire Department — $15,000 • Leachville — $15,000 • Lockesburg — $14,250 • Maddox Bay Volunteer Fire Department — $3,975 • Marion County — $2,000 • Oak Grove — $15,000 • Peppers Lake Volunteer Fire Department — $7,750.98 • Scott Fire Protection District — $14,961.80 • Star City — $7,072 • Thornton — $14,400 • Tyronza — $9,680 • Western Greene County Fire District — $7,838.41 • Winthrop — $5,750 • County Fair Building Grant Recipients: • Baxter County Fair Association — $4,000 • Calhoun County Fair Association — $4,000 • Carroll County Fair Association — $4,000 • Clark County Fair Association — $2,695.62 • North Franklin County Fair Association — $4,000 • Fulton County Fair Association, Inc. — $4,000 • Howard County Fair Association — $4,000 • Johnson County Fair Association — $2,496.60 • Sharp County Fair Association — $4,000 • Van Buren County Fair — $4,000 • Yell County Fair Association — $4,000