Federal bill could push $1.6 million to Fort Smith area

Millions in federal funding for Arkansas agencies, cities and projects were included in a group of fiscal year 2010 spending bills approved Friday (Dec. 11) in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

The Senate is expected to soon vote on the bills.

Of the almost $17 million in funding for transportation projects, none of the funds were for new construction on Interstate 49. However, the Fort Smith area will receive $1.6 million from the legislation if it is approved by the U.S. Senate.

FORT SMITH AREA PROJECTS
• $750,000 for the city of Fort Smith Police Department’s River Valley Mobile Data Network
Funding will be used to purchase and implement a county wide law enforcement mobile data network in Sebastian County. The technologies and methodologies that would be deployed include: mobile data terminals, global positioning systems, standardization of records management systems, and real time criminal information sharing among all agencies. The River Valley Mobile Data Project would serve nine member agencies in Sebastian County.

• $600,000 for a Health Improvement Initiative at Mena Regional Health System
Funding will be used for purchase of MRI and CT equipment, and subsequent renovation of the radiology department at MRHS in Mena.

• $250,000 for Downtown Riverfront Development in Fort Smith
Funds will go toward planning, design and construction that will help revitalize the City of Fort Smith’s downtown area and develop the Arkansas Riverfront. The central focal point of economic revitalization in the area is the U.S. Marshals Museum.

The following is a list of Arkansas’s priorities included in the legislation:
• Military Construction
$25 million for a Fuse and Detonator Magazine, Depot Level, at the Pine Bluff Arsenal (This funding was requested in the President’s budget.).

$10.4 million for a Security Forces Operations Facility at Little Rock Air Force Base

$5.8 million for a C-130 Flight Simulator Addition at Little Rock Air Force Base (This funding was requested in the President’s budget.).

$1.24 million for a West Memphis Readiness Center

• Transportation
$3,435,000 for Interstate 430/630: Interchange Modification

$3,435,000 for Interstate 540: Fayetteville-North

$1,948,000 for Interstate 69/Great River Bridge: Highway 65-MS Highway 1

$198,400 for Arkansas Foodbank Network Facility in Little Rock

$1,948,000 for Highway 63 Interchange Improvements

$1,363,600 for Hwy. 167: Louisiana State Line to Sheridan

$1,300,000 for Arkansas Statewide Bus and Bus Facilities

$1,200,000 for the Delta Regional Airport

$974,000 for Highway 226: Highway 67 to Highway 49

$779,200 for Interstate 40:  New Conway South Interchange

$750,000 for the Airport Improvement Program at the Texarkana Regional Airport

$500,000 for Railroad Overpass in Blytheville

$475,000 for Southeast Arkansas Intermodal Facility

$350,000 for Mid South Community College in West Memphis

$250,000 for Downtown Riverfront Development in Fort Smith

• Commerce, Science, Justice
$1,200,000 for the Rural Executive Management Institute at the Criminal Justice Institute/National Center for Rural Law Enforcement

$750,000 for Technology/Security Infrastructure Upgrades at Philander Smith College

$750,000 for Simulcast System for Public Safety Communication for the City of Fayetteville Police Department

$750,000 for the City of Fort Smith Police Department’s River Valley Mobile Data Network

$600,000 for Save the Children’s Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program

$600,000 for the Arkansas School Resource Officer Program at the Criminal Justice Institute

$575,000 for the Arkansas Methamphetamine Education and Training Program at the Criminal Justice Institute

$350,000 for the Pulaski County Youth Services Youth Initiative to Encourage Learning and Development

$325,000 for Mobile Data Terminal Acquisition at the Hot Springs Police Department

$250,000 for University of Arkansas for Medical Science Campus Security Enhancement

$200,000 for A Child Is Missing Program in Arkansas

$200,000 for University of Arkansas Little Rock Juvenile Justice Center’s Child Maltreatment and Delinquency Project

$155,000 for the Art Center of the Grand Prairie in Stuttgart

$140,000 for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department

$125,000 for the City of Hardy

$100,000 for the Cyber Crimes Investigation Training Initiative at the Criminal Justice Institute

$100,000 for the Izard County Sheriff Department Calico Rock Police Program

$100,000 for the Joiner Police Department

$100,000 for the Miller County Sheriff’s Department

$75,000 for the Union County Sheriff’s Department

$62,000 for the City of Brinkley Police Department

$50,000 for the City of Hoxie Police Department

• Labor, Health and Human Services
$750,000 for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS

$600,000 for a Health Improvement Initiative at Mena Regional Health System

$600,000 for Library Expansion at Pulaski Technical College

$500,000 for the Expansion of the Nursing Program at NorthWest Arkansas Community College

$400,000 for the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, St. Bernards Development Foundation

$250,000 to Address Critical National Energy and Environmental Issues at University of Arkansas at Monticello

$250,000 for North Arkansas College

$240,000 for the Marshallese Health Clinic in Springdale

$200,000 for a Robotic Surgical System at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Foundation

$200,000 for Nursing School Equipment at Southeast Arkansas College

$200,000 for St. John’s Hospital in Berryville

$200,000 for ASU-Beebe’s Oil and Gas Training Program

$150,000 for the Aerospace Manufacturing Program at SAU-Tech

$100,000 for Instructional Technology and Curriculum Development at UCA

$100,000 for Digital Mamography Equipment at Drew Memorial Hospital

$100,000 for Arkansas Methodist Medical Center

• Financial Services
$275,000 for the Small Business Innovation Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock

$200,000 for the Commercial Driver Training Institute at Arkansas State University-Newport

$225,000 for the University of Arkansas Technology Development Foundation