SAVE THE DATE: 2012 Rural Development Conference

Join us for food, fun, and fantastic information regarding issues pertinent to our Rural Arkansas.

May 22nd - May 24th, 2012

The Best Western Inn of the Ozarks and Convention Center

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Hotel Reservations are available with:

Best Western Inn of the Ozarks

207 W. Van Buren

Eureka Springs, AR  72632

1-800-552-3785

Overflow hotels:

1905 Basin Park Hotel

Toll-Free:  1-877-643-4972

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Toll-Free:  1-877-342-9766

Best Western Eureka Inn

Toll-Free:  1-800-221-3344 

For more information regarding the conference:

Phone: 501-682-6011

Toll free: 888-787-2527

E-mail: Stephanie.Neipling@arkansas.gov

Click here for the Registration Form and tentative Agenda for the 2012 Rural Development Conference.

General Improvement Funds will be available for Fiscal Year 2012

Money will be available in Fiscal Year 2012 for our GIF grant programs.  The grant programs

include GIF-1 (Community Enhancement), GIF-2 (Fire Protection), and GIF-3 (County Fair). 

We will open up the grant cycle on August 1st.  The deadline for the next grant cycle will be

November 18, 2011.  Applications are available online or you can call our office if you would like

one mailed.

Pilot Program Available again for Fiscal Year 2012: Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant Program

Objective:

The Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant Program strives to ignite interest in the

natural, cultural, scenic beauty, fish, wildlife and other natural resources of Arkansas

and to promote economic development in a healthy and environmentally sound manner.

What’s Available:

• Up to $100,000 in grant money toward a single project.
• Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is available per fiscal year

Application Period:

One cycle per fiscal year. 

Eligibility Requirement:

Incorporated cities and towns and unincorporated communities in RURAL areas of

less than 20,000 in population (verifiable by current U.S. Census Information) are eligible

to apply for assistance through the Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant Program.

Eligible Projects:

Projects include but are not limited to the construction or renovation of the following facilities:

• Community fishing ponds
• Firing ranges
• Fishing access piers
• Archery ranges
• Fish Cleaning Stations
• Canoe or boat launches
• Observation platforms and blinds

Cost eligible for grant funding include, but are not limited to:

• Materials for construction
• Labor directly related to the construction of the proposed project
• Interpretive or directional signage directly related to the proposed project
• Design fees
• Parking, sidewalks, and other access construction directly related to the proposed project

Deadline:

The deadline for Fiscal Year 2012 is November 4, 2011.

Rural Community Grant Applications Available

Rural Community Grant applications are now available from the

Department of Rural Services. You may download an application by clicking

on DRS Grants to the left of this page or request one by calling 1.888.787.2527.

The deadlines for Fiscal Year 2012 are August 19, 2011 (Cycle 1), December 9, 2011 (Cycle 2), and March 16, 2012 (Cycle 3). 

values and way of life through a variety of grants.

Two such grants are the Rural Community Development Grant

Program and the Rural Community Fire Protection Grant Program.

Under these programs, the Department of Rural Services with assistance

from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission fund projects

such as baseball/softball fields, community parks, walking trails,

community centers, fire stations, fire trucks and other fire protection

related equipment. DRS accepts and funds applications three times

each fiscal year. Our upcoming deadlines for the Rural Community Grants

are August 19, 2011, December 9, 2011, and March 16, 2012..

In July 1999, DRS added two additional programs to assist rural

communities. The first is the County Fair Building Grant Program.

As we all know, the county fair is an integral part of life in rural

Arkansas, but they need money to stay viable. The County Fair

Building Grant Program has been established to help meet some

of these monetary needs. Fair associations located in counties

with a population of 55,000 or less are eligible to apply for up to

$4,000 per year under the program. Communities must provide

50% of the cost of the project as match to qualify for the grant.

The next deadlines for this grant is August 19, 2011. We strongly

encourage all counties/county fair associations to apply.

The second is the Rural Services Block Grant Program. The

Rural Services Block Grant Program was established through

a partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development

Commission. Unlike the other DRS grant programs, the source

of funding is federal dollars from Housing and Urban Development.

Under the Block Grant, communities with a population of 3,000 or

less and whose population is 51% low to moderate income are

eligible to apply for grants. Applications for this grant program

are currently available. This fiscal year's deadline is December 9, 2011.