Mississippi County launches 2024 Infrastructure Grant Program, solicits applicants

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT/Edited News Release) - Mississippi County has announced the launch of its 2024 infrastructure grant program, which will award a total of $750,000 to cities and towns within the county to fund vital water and sewer infrastructure improvements and projects.

Applications can be submitted on the County’s website, and the deadline to apply is Friday, March 1, at 5 p.m.

“We are pleased to once again have the opportunity to provide the funding to help our cities and towns make much-needed infrastructure improvements to their water and sewer systems,” said County Judge John Alan Nelson. “We are eager to see the applications and to identify projects that will improve the quality of life of Mississippi County residents, support our local economy, and help continue our current population growth.”

The grants are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Relief Fund, which was signed into law in 2021 and provides each U.S. county with funding to support investments that promote long-term growth and opportunity.

The Mississippi County Water and Sewer Infrastructure Grant Program will fund innovative and effective water and sewer infrastructure projects designed to address the infrastructure needs of the county.

Each grant will provide up to $125,000 to cities within Mississippi County and can only be used for infrastructure projects pursuant to the Arkansas Constitution, Article 12, Section 5 as incorporated into Article 12 by Amendment 97.

The grants will fund up to 75 percent of project costs, with the remaining 25 percent being matched by the applicants.

Cities and towns that have received funding from previous grant cycles are still eligible to apply. However, the total grant funding received by any one applicant must not exceed $400,000.

This is the second year Mississippi County has awarded infrastructure grants to its cities and towns.

In 2023, the County awarded $2.2 million to fund 11 projects, including:

• City of Blytheville - $200,000 to improve critical sewer infrastructure;
• Town of Dell - $200,000 to partially fund the municipal water system storage tank rehabilitation;
• Town of Etowah - $200,000 to fund Etowah’s Wastewater System Improvements Project;
• Town of Etowah - $41,250 to support the Wastewater Treatment Facility Standby Generator Replacement Project;
• City of Gosnell - $200,000 to fund various road and street projects;
• City of Keiser - $200,000 to partially fund the rehabilitation of Keiser’s elevated water storage tank exterior and improvements at the water treatment facility;
• City of Keiser - $200,000 to support Keiser’s Highway 181 Lift Station Rehabilitation Project;
• City of Leachville - $200,000 to allow the acquisition of approximately 34 acres of land to expand the Leachville City Wastewater Plant;
• City of Manila - $200,000 to partially fund Manila’s Water Tower Refurbish/Repair Project;
• City of Manila - $158,750 to support Manila’s Fire Department Expansion Project;
• City of Osceola - $200,000 to partially fund the survey, testing, and repair of key parts of Osceola’s storm drainage system.

For more information, visit the County website.