Water projects get recommendation for Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act money

Arkansas’ water could quickly run a bit of clearer.

What’s taking place: The Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee on Thursday OK’d $300 million for state water-related wants requested by the Division of Agriculture.

Why it issues: There are 1,417 water-related infrastructure tasks valued at greater than $5.26 billion that want consideration statewide, in accordance with a 2021 survey.

• A working group chaired by Wes Ward, secretary of the Arkansas Division of Agriculture, carried out the survey to uncover wants for residents to have high quality ingesting water in addition to efficient wastewater, stormwater and dam/levee methods.

By the numbers: The typical value of every mission was $3.76 million, the working group discovered. Of the 1,417 wants, greater than 700 had been associated to ingesting water, 500 linked to wastewater and about 150 tied to stormwater. The rest had been about dam/levee methods or combined tasks.

• The state authorities alone — starting from departments of corrections to tourism — has greater than $38 million in tasks that must be addressed.

Particulars: The state Division of Agriculture proposed that $270 million go right into a grant program, and cities, counties and different public entities can apply, however tasks should adjust to pointers from the U.S. Environmental Safety Company.

• About $20 million might be earmarked for 2 Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee tasks.
• One other $10 million might be put aside for 2 irrigation tasks.
• There is a advisable $5 million cap per entity.

What they’re saying: “I’d emphasize that water and wastewater are critically vital throughout the complete state of Arkansas,” Ward advised Axios. “You may’t slim that all the way down to a particular area or particular space.”

Context: Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed the ARPA Steering Committee in Could 2021 to make suggestions on the distribution of practically $1.6 billion in ARPA funding. The cash should be spent on considered one of eight standards, together with for water and sewer infrastructure.

• Earlier than any suggestions had been made Thursday, the Steering Committee had over $876 million of the $1.6 billion out there.
• Separate from the state’s funds, Arkansas cities and counties can even obtain greater than $1 billion in ARPA cash.

What’s subsequent: As soon as an company has acquired suggestions from the Steering Committee, they have to additionally get approval from Hutchinson and Arkansas Legislative Council.

• Ward advised Axios if all goes in accordance with plan, his division may have the inexperienced mild on Aug. 26.