AEDC Awards $1.3 Million In Block Grants To Eight Communities

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has awarded $1,395,002 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to eight Arkansas communities.

The grants are awarded under the “General Assistance and Innovative Projects” line item, designed to provide communities the opportunity to apply for grants not covered under other funding categories.

All Arkansas cities and counties are eligible for the grant program with the exception of 14 entitlement cities that receive CDBG funds directly from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

To be eligible, more than half the population benefiting from the grants must be of low to moderate income.

The eight projects include the following cities:

• Tuckerman: $216,000 to expand a building housing the city’s food pantry
• Beedeville: $216,000 for street repairs
• Brinkley: $162,100 for drainage improvements
• Evening Shade: $92,922 to purchase and install a generator at a community shelter
• Pocahontas: $202,250 for drainage improvements
• Wilmot: $200,300 for drainage improvements

And the following counties:

• Saline County: $89,430 to install a kitchen at the ICAN! Arts and Resource Center
• White County: $216,000 for a children’s safety center for abused children