Arkansas Congressional Delegation Announces $911,000 for Arkansas Communities
Funds Provided by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act will be used to purchase police cars, fire trucks, and other safety equipment
Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01) and Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced that rural communities across Arkansas will receive a total of $911,000 to purchase police cars, fire trucks, and other needed equipment. The funds are provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Congress passed with their support and the President signed into law earlier this year.
“More than $1 billion in economic recovery funds have been allocated for Arkansas to date, and many of those dollars are putting Arkansans to work building roads, repairing schools, and providing health care, among other critical priorities. These latest funds will provide our communities with much-needed resources to help keep Arkansans safe. Recovery dollars have been critical for our state, and I’m convinced that without the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, economic conditions across our nation would be much worse,” said Lincoln.
“During tough economic times, demand on law enforcement and emergency medical care significantly increase. These economic recovery funds will ensure law enforcement in rural communities have the police cars, fire trucks and other safety equipment to meet emerging challenges,” Pryor said.
“During these difficult economic times, many rural local communities have stretched their resources thin and are in need of improving and upgrading their equipment,” said Berry. “Having reliable transportation and tools are essential for first responders to keep our streets safe. These funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will provide local municipalities with the funding they need to continue to serve their communities.”
“Our communities depend on local law enforcement having the technology and resources they need to keep our families safe,” said Ross. “These funds will provide our first responders with the necessary tools they need to ensure their own safety and to quickly answer the needs of their citizens.”
Communities receiving grants are listed below along with their anticipated purchase:
City of Bradley, Police Car, $40,000
City of Marianna, Police Car, $42,000
City of McCrory, Police Car, $8,000
Monroe County, Police Car, $20,000
Sharp County, Bucket Truck, $20,000
City of Prescott, Police Car, $33,000
City of Brinkley, Police Car, $50,000
Arkansas Methodist Hospital Corporation, Ambulance, $50,000
City of Dermott, Police Radios and Equipment, $34,000
City of Hoxie, Fire Truck, $50,000
City of Huntsville, Fire Truck, $50,000
City of Lake View, Fire Equipment, $35,000
City of Paris, Police Car, $10,000
City of Parkin, Police Car, $35,000
Jackson County, Courthouse Elevator, $49,000 (Plus an additional $90,000 in loans)
McGehee-Desha County Hospital, Equipment, $100,000
Clifty Rural Fire Department, Fire Station, $50,000 (Plus an additional $145,000 in loans)
These economic recovery funds are provided through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities program, which helps finance and develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas.
