Government of Mississippi County gives multiple grants for cities’ funding

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - Several towns within Mississippi County have received funding from the Mississippi County Infrastructure Grant Program that will aid in both city expansion and growth.

The Government of Mississippi County announced on June 6 a grant for the city of Etowah, Arkansas. The $41,250 will be used for the town’s Wastewater Treatment Facility Standby Generator Replacement Project, which provides sanitary sewer service to 150 residential customers and seven commercial customers. “The Town of Etowah is so grateful to the Mississippi County Quorum Court and Judge Nelson for the grant for the generator for our wastewater treatment facility,” Etowah Mayor Charles “Bo” McCollum said.

MCIGP also announced another grant on June 7 for $158,750 to the city of Manila. The grant is for Manila’s Fire Department Expansion Project which will house one ladder truck, one tanker truck, and one rescue with a spare pumper truck, which are currently housed in areas needed for training. “This award is a case of the County helping one of its cities improve the quality of life for its citizens. We are extremely proud to be able to partner with and invest in the City of Manila for this critical, potentially lifesaving, infrastructure improvement,” County Judge John Alan Nelson said.

It was announced on June 8 that $200,000 has been granted to the city of Leachville for an additional 34 acres of land, both east and north of Leachville, that line up with the current city limits. The land will be used to aid in city growth and prosperity. “The City of Leachville is very grateful to the County and to Judge Nelson for the grant that will be used to acquire land to expand the City. It is great to work together to make life in Mississippi County better for our citizens,” Mayor Rodney Robertson said.

On June 12, MCIGP announced it is giving $200,000 to the City of Blytheville. According to the City of Blytheville’s grant application, many of Blytheville’s sewer lines, distribution lines and storage facilities are more than 100 years old, and this grant will be used to improve critical infrastructure to prevent road collapse.

Also announced on June 12 was another grant given to the town of Dell to improve the town’s water treatment facility. According to a news release, the new well and water treatment facility was constructed in 2017. However, the water system needs to rehabilitate the existing 150,000-gallon elevated storage tank, last inspected in 2021.

The Government of Mississippi County granted $200,000 to the City of Osceola on June 20. Partial funds for the city of Osceola will be used for tests and repairs of the drainage system. To determine the biggest issue in the system, the city will map the oldest part of the drainage. According to the city’s application, the water drains move slowly, have lingering standing water, and the quality-of-life problems are heightened.

The city of Gosnell received $200,000 on June 21 for infrastructure projects to expand the city’s future. New streets and repairs on existing ones will be added for the city’s substantial growth.