Arkansas

17 Arkansas cities, counties share $8.5M in community development grants | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

2 years ago

May 3, 2024

17 Arkansas cities, counties share .5M in community development grants | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Seventeen Arkansas cities and counties have been awarded a combined $8.5 million in Community Development Block Grants, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission announced.

The 17 cities and counties all received roughly $500,000 for various infrastructure or community projects. The grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are distributed by the states.

To be eligible for a grant under the program, a community has to have a population of fewer than 50,000 residents and must show that a majority of the people who would benefit from the funding are low- to moderate-income or it would eliminate slums or blight, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“When the federal government works right, in coordination with state and local experts, the results can be fantastic,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday. “The Community Development Block Grant program is an example of state and federal collaboration. We can thank our congressional delegation for this 50-year-old program’s success, keeping it out of the hands of special interest groups and making it determined solely on community size and need.”

The grants announced Thursday are a portion of the $17.8 million the state has received for the General Assistance set-aside under the program for fiscal year 2023, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Communities may apply for grants ranging from $75,000 to $1 million.

To help determine which communities should receive the funding, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission travels around and holds town hall forums to get public input, according its website.

“With these grants, our communities will have better infrastructure and better quality-of-life amenities,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Established through federal law in 1974, Arkansas first began receiving Community Development Block Grants in 1983. In total, the state has received more than $900 million in grant funding for 2,390 projects across the state, according to the news release.

The Arkansas cities and counties that have been awarded Community Development Block Grants are:

Columbia County: $500,000 for an after-school youth center.

Dierks (Howard County): $499,743 for water system improvements.

Dumas (Desha County): $499,935 for sewer system improvements.

East Camden (Ouachita County): $499,420 for sewer system improvements.

Garland City (Miller County): $500,000 for pond levee improvements.

Hope (Hempstead County): $500,000 for wastewater system improvements.

Jennette (Crittenden County): $500,000 for water system improvements.

Kensett (White County): $499,750 for wastewater treatment plant improvements.

Kingsland (Cleveland County): $500,000 for pump station improvements and pipe repairs.

Lockesburg (Sevier County): $500,000 for water tank improvements.

Logan County: $485,556 for senior center renovations.

Lonoke (Lonoke County): $500,000 for sewer line rehabilitation.

Lonoke County: $500,000 for a developmentally disabled vocational training facility.

Pangburn (White County): $500,000 for wastewater collection system rehabilitation.

Peach Orchard (Clay County): $498,920 for water line rehabilitation.

Sparkman (Dallas County): $496,426 for wastewater rehabilitation.

Van Buren County: $500,000 for road improvements.

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Arkansas

Arkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning

Published

18 minutes ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning

CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.

According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.

DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.

Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:

Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)

Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.

“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”

Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.

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Arkansas

Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs now available in Apple Wallet

Published

11 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs now available in Apple Wallet

Arkansans can now present their driver’s licenses and state identification cards on mobile devices using Apple Wallet, state finance officials announced Wednesday.

The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security

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Arkansas

Your Arkansas Driver’s License Can Now Live on Your iPhone

Published

21 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Your Arkansas Driver’s License Can Now Live on Your iPhone

IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.

The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.

The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.

“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.

To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.

Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.

Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.

The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.

The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.

For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.

READ ALSO: Adam O’Neal Stepping into Chancellor Role at UA-EACC

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