Governor Sanders Joins AEDC’s Rural Services Division to Award $334K to 33 Arkansas Communities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.– Governor Sanders, along with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services, awarded $344,728.69 in grants to 33 Arkansas cities and counties. 

“These grants go a long way toward making sure that every corner of Arkansas – not just a few big cities – is taken care of,” said Governor Sanders.“These 33 recipients come from across our state, from Yellville to Mulberry. Each one of these grants provides their communities with the tools they need to make Arkansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“Rural communities play a major role in the economic success of our state,” said Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Clint O’Neal.“The grants awarded by AEDC’s Division of Rural Services will help rural communities throughout the state improve their infrastructure and quality of life amenities to benefit Arkansans.”

“We are committed to working with and supporting rural communities in Arkansas to help them succeed,” said Director of the Division of Rural Services Becca Caldwell. “With the latest Rural Community Grant Program awards, thirty-three Arkansas cities and counties have additional resources and funding for important projects that will increase quality of life in their communities.”

The Rural Community Grant Program is one of the Division of Rural Services’ programs, which is used to fund projects such as fire trucks, fire protection equipment, community centers, storm sirens, community parks, walking trails, and baseball fields. 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 under the program.

The grants are part of the Division of Rural Services’ second cycle of Fiscal Year 2024 grants. AEDC previously awarded $806,125 in grants to 29 Arkansas cities and counties during the 2024 Rural Development Conference in May. 

These are the Arkansas communities receiving grants:

• Center Hill Fire Department, $15,000

• City of Foreman, $15,000

• City of Lakeview, $1,946.78

• City of McNeil, $6,160.36

• City of Mulberry, $3,847.84

• City of Strong, $15,000

• City of Sulphur Springs, $8,588.60

• City of Winthrop, $15,000

• City of Yellville, $6,098.75

• Cord Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000

• Cotter-Gassville Rural Fire Protection District, $14,433.08

• Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, $14,801.93

• Etowah Volunteer Fire Department, $3,002

• Grayson Fire Department, $15,000

• Highfill Volunteer Fire Department, $14,915.92

• Highway 250 Volunteer Fire Department, $5,718.31

• Huntsville Fire Department, $6,562.50

• Keo Fire Department, $13,244

• Lake City Fire Department, $7,169.97

• Leslie Volunteer Fire Department, $13,724.85

• Lincoln Fire Department, $15,000

• Lutherville-Holman Community, $11,162

• Luton-Pelsor Volunteer Fire Department, $9,750

• Norfork Fire Department, $14,406.04

• Oakland Promise Land Fire Protection District, $15,000

• Pangburn Volunteer Fire Department, $7,124.25

• Pike County, $4,041.52

• Prim Fire Department, $14,630

• Stone County, $15,000

• Town of Franklin, $8,347.80

• Tyronza Volunteer Fire Department, $3,832.20

• Waldron Rural Fire Protection District, $1,250

• Washington Volunteer Fire Department, $15,000

Tech startup program, ARise, kicks off

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

Arkansas’ tech entrepreneurs have a new tool to use. ARise – Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs – was launched Thursday (June 20). It’s an iteration of the Arkansas Statewide Technology Commercialization program formerly known as Innovate Arkansas.

ARise, funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and led by Startup Junkie, aims to propel tech and tech-enabled companies in Arkansas.

“Growing technology companies is critical for Arkansas’ long-term economic success. The ARise program is a key element of our strategy for providing support and resources for tech ventures as they scale up in the Natural State,“ said Clint O’Neal, executive director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Tech startup program, ARise, kicks off

Sanders Names Clint O’Neal Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will name Clint O’Neal Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).  
 
“I am ready to unleash my vision to make Arkansas the best place in the nation to start and grow a business alongside Clint O’Neal, who will serve as Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission,” Sanders said. “His nearly two decades of experience in this field will be invaluable as we work together with Secretary Hugh McDonald to foster a pro-business, pro-worker environment, attracting companies across the nation – and world – to bring thousands of high-paying jobs to Arkansas.” 
 
“The team at AEDC is full of talented economic development professionals who believe in the mission and work every day to make Arkansas a top business destination. I’m honored and excited to lead the organization that gave me the opportunity to start my career in economic development over 15 years ago,” O’Neal said. “It is a privilege to be entrusted to serve as Executive Director of AEDC at a time when Arkansas is gaining momentum and notoriety on the national and international stage. Arkansas has an outstanding business community and the tools companies need to succeed. I look forward to working alongside Governor Sanders, Secretary McDonald, our state legislature, economic development partners around the state, and the remarkable team at AEDC to make that message known at home and abroad.”
 
“With his wealth of experience in economic development and his passion for supporting businesses and communities in Arkansas, Clint is a natural fit to lead AEDC,” Secretary McDonald said. “Clint has a proven record of reliable leadership, and he has demonstrated that he knows what it takes to bring new capital investment into our state and win new jobs for Arkansans. I have full confidence that AEDC will thrive under Clint’s leadership and, by extension, so will Arkansas.” 
  
Clint O’Neal biography:
 
Clint O’Neal has served as the Deputy Director of Global Business at AEDC since 2018. In his role as deputy director, O’Neal provides leadership to several divisions within the agency, including Business Development, Existing Business, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development, Marketing, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise, Film, and Military Affairs. As executive director, he will continue to oversee these divisions, alongside the other functions of the agency, such as community resources, finance, science and technology, and legislative affairs. 
 
O’Neal has nearly two decades of experience in the field of economic development. He began his economic development career as a project manager at AEDC. He then served as Vice President of Business Recruitment for the Missouri Partnership, Missouri’s principal business recruitment and marketing organization, before rejoining AEDC as deputy director.  
 
Clint is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council. He holds a master’s degree in community and economic development from the University of Central Arkansas. 
 
O’Neal lives in Conway with his wife, Heather, and their four children, Chloe, Ellie, Ava and Caleb.