AEDC doles community grants in 39 counties

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 last month. After careful consideration, AEDC cancelled 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 August 6.

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