Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces $60M in funding for state’s water infrastructure

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNOE) – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas is providing $60M to address statewide infrastructure needs. $55M of that is for water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5M is for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to help water and wastewater systems across the state.

These funds are part of Governor Sanders’ larger effort to improve the quality of and accessibility to clean and safe water for Arkansans.

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

The $60M in funding was approved in the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) on June 21.

“Water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critically important to the everyday lives of all Arkansans,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We appreciate Governor Sanders’ consistent leadership on water issues and will work diligently to utilize these newly approved funds, as well as our existing programs and efforts, to meet water and wastewater needs across the state.

Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, the State of Arkansas is administering over $2.5B for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds.

To be eligible for the funding announced today, July 1, water and wastewater projects have to be on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) waitlist approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) in December 2022. Projects will receive funding based on their readiness to proceed to construction and must expense all funds by December 31, 2026.

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