$60 million in federal funds available for Arkansas water projects

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

About $60 million will be spent on statewide water and infrastructure needs. The funds are part of the American Rescue Plan that was passed by Congress in 2021.

Gov. Sarah Sanders said $55 million will be used on water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5 million for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to assist water and wastewater systems across the state. The legislature approved the funds in Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) late last month.

“My administration has worked with our federal partners to appropriately put money into Arkansas’ water infrastructure development, and this announcement adds to that commitment, Every Arkansan deserves safe and accessible drinking water, and with this funding, we will move closer to that goal,” she said.

$60 million in federal funds available for Arkansas water projects

Image from the City of Fort Smith

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) and ALC subcommittees convened this week. In these meetings, members received an update regarding the implementation of LEARNS, an update regarding a study of our state’s firearms laws, and approved funding to expand nurse training programs in the state.

Education Secretary Jacob Oliva updated the council on the use of Education Freedom Accounts. Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) is a school choice initiative that provides funding for eligible students to attend participating private schools. Secretary Oliva told the council that 4,795 students and 94 schools are currently participating. 

For this school year, EFA’s are limited to first-time kindergartners, students coming from “F” rated schools, students with a disability, foster care children, or children of active-duty military. 

Students with a disability identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act represent the largest share of participating students, amounting to 44% of total participants. First-time kindergarteners likewise represent a sizable share of the total participants, making up 31% of the participants’ population. 

Upon request, the council approved the disbursement of federal American Rescue Plan funds including a request from the Department of Commerce for $25 million to educate more nurses in Arkansas. The department says the funding will be used for a grant program to expand nursing apprenticeships, increase nursing program capacity, and tuition reimbursement. A portion of the funds will also be used for career center licensed practical nurse pathway development. These centers provide high school seniors and juniors college credit while in school.  

The Council was also informed that the Game and Fish and State Police Subcommittee will meet on Monday, November 13 at 1 pm in the MAC building behind the Capitol to begin hearing information presentations regarding federal laws related to firearms. 

This is the beginning of the Arkansas Firearms and Concealed Carry Laws Study. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments at the meeting. There will be a link on the General Assembly website for public comment, and there will be a signup sheet at the committee meeting. Only those members of the public who have signed up in one of those two ways will be allowed to come forward and present their comments to the Subcommittee. 

You can watch all ALC meetings and subcommittee meetings at www.arkansashouse.org.

Arkansas receives $280 million from American Rescue Plan

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas will receive $280 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to tackle water problems statewide.

About $270 million will be used on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects, and $10 million will be doled to assist areas in eastern Arkansas with the transition from groundwater to surface water and help preserve the Sparta and Alluvial aquifers.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson created a Water and Other Infrastructure Working Group to assist the Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee in identifying water infrastructure projects. The working group conducted a needs survey that identified more than $5 billion in water, wastewater, and stormwater needs across the state. The working group made a subsequent funding proposal which was approved by the Steering Committee in August and by the Arkansas Legislative Council today.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/arkansas-receives-280-million-from-american-rescue-plan/

Senate Education Committee chair says teacher pay needs to wait on adequacy study

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

State Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, said it is important to follow the process of an adequacy study to raise teacher salaries in Arkansas.

The chair of the Senate Education Committee, Irvin said she has legal concerns if Arkansas lawmakers deviate from the formula that came from the 2004 Lake View case.

“… Legally, my concern is if you start to pick and choose one category outside of that adequacy process, I don’t think that that’s really following what the court wanted us to do, and so that is a huge concern from a legal standpoint, that you’re right in the middle of a study, you’re right in the middle of the process, and you picked out one category of expenditure and you didn’t take into consideration all the expenditures and the funding needed for public school in its totality, which is exactly what the Lakeview case was really all about,” she said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/07/senate-education-committee-chair-says-teacher-pay-needs-to-wait-on-adequacy-study/

Governor Asa Hutchinson Issues Statement in Response to Legislative Council

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson issued the following statement in regards to the Arkansas Legislative Council's decision on the use of money from the American Rescue Plan.

"While I am pleased the Arkansas Legislative Council supports funding bonus pay for teachers, their action to rescind $500 million in spending authority for the Arkansas Department of Education is contrary to the Council’s statutory authority and contrary to the principles of separation of powers underlying the Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Act.

"I am disappointed by the Legislative Council’s vote to rescind its approval to give the Arkansas Department of Education authority to spend $500 million in American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund. Just as the General Assembly could not recall a bill from my desk that had already been signed into law, ALC may not undo the lawful appropriations under Act 199 through a parliamentary maneuver. 

"Under the appropriation passed last month the schools could use the funds for teacher bonuses and incentives. The big change now is that the schools must submit plans which must go back to the legislature for additional review.

"In other words, the local school district priorities may not be approved. I am concerned that teachers in some districts will get a bonus, but others may not. The creative approach by the committee today, while well-intentioned, is not the best approach to helping our teachers."

Sultana Disaster Museum receives $1 million federal grant; Southwest Trail gets $2 million

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

For years, an effort has been underway to build a museum to commemorate the sinking of the Sultana, a Civil War steamboat that sank April 27, 1865, in the choppy waters of the Mississippi River near the city of Marion. An estimated 1,200 passengers died making it the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.

The Sultana Disaster Museum on Tuesday (July 19) received a $1 million grant from the American Rescue Plan. Garland and Saline counties each received $1 million grants from the ARP to develop trail systems.

For the museum to receive the grant, locals had to put up a $250,000 match. The project will create 90 jobs and generate $200,000 in private investments.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/07/sultana-disaster-museum-receives-1-million-federal-grant-southwest-trail-gets-2-million/

On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River about 7 miles from Memphis.

Arkansas Humanities Council Offering American Rescue Plan Grants

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Humanities Council has received $759,297 from the National Endowment of the Humanities to implement the America Rescue Plan grant program aimed at helping the survival of Arkansas’ critical cultural institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maximum awards of up to $25,000 will be offered.

The funds are designated for operational expenses, strategic planning and capacity building and are available to nonprofit humanities-based cultural organizations in Arkansas. The American Rescue Plan grants provide immediate funds to museums, historical societies, college and universities, and other humanities-based cultural organizations.

Information about eligibility, grant applications and guidelines can be found here. Applications open on July 1 and must be submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. August 15, 2021.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/arkansas-humanities-council-offering-american-rescue-plan-grants/

USDA Disagrees With Court Order Halting Minority Loan Forgiveness Program

By CHRISTINE JONES

Approximately 16,000 socially disadvantaged farmers, otherwise known as minority farmers, were set to begin receiving about $4 billion in federal debt payment relief as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The funds were to help pay off approximately 20,000 farm loans that had been granted by the U.S. Agriculture Department or private firms to Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other minority farmers. However, those payments were placed on hold just days before they were set to begin going out.

In a lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty representing 12 white farmers from nine states who are ineligible for the program, U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach, ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cease and desist forgiving loans based solely on the premise of race last on June 10.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/usda-disagrees-court-order-halting-minority-loan-forgiveness-program

A court order this month has halted a loan forgiveness program for minority farmers.

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$5 Billion Arkansas American Rescue Explained

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden in March, delivers $1.9 trillion to state and local governments, individuals, businesses, healthcare and educational institutions all impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of Arkansas' $5 billion share, $1.57 billion is earmarked for state fiscal relief.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/5-billion-arkansas-american-rescue-explained

Scott Hardin, Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration spokesperson, explains how American Rescue Plan is being deployed.

J. FROELICH / KUAF

VIDEO: Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Steering Committee Meeting Wednesday (05.19.21)

Arkansas to Stop $300-a-week Federal Jobless Benefits; U.S. April Job Numbers Below Estimates

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday (May 7) stopped the state’s participation in federal supplemental jobless benefits which provided an extra $300 a week to those who qualified. The move comes as U.S. jobless data showed far fewer returning to work than expected.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law in early March by President Joe Biden included $300-a-week federal unemployment benefits through September. The plan also included $1,400 per-person stimulus checks and $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments to cover deficits resulting from the pandemic. The $300 a week equals a $15,600 annual salary.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/arkansas-to-stop-300-a-week-federal-jobless-benefits-u-s-april-job-numbers-below-estimates/