The City of Black Rock in Lawrence County will receive a $100,000 emergency loan from the Arkansas Water Development Fund to improve its wastewater system, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Wednesday.
The funding is part of $8.2 million in financial assistance approved for water and wastewater projects across the state. Black Rock’s allocation will support updates to its sewer lift station infrastructure.
The City of Stamps in Lafayette County also secured a $100,000 emergency loan to repair its wastewater treatment plant, while the White River Regional Irrigation District in Prairie County was approved for an $8 million loan from the General Obligation Bond Program. That funding will aid continued construction of the Grand Prairie Demonstration Project, a surface water irrigation initiative designed to serve 362,000 acres when complete.
“Reliable water infrastructure is essential to Arkansas’ growth, from our farms and businesses to families and communities across the state,” Sanders said in a statement. She emphasized that the approved projects would bolster critical water systems, foster economic growth, and ensure clean drinking water for residents.
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward highlighted the scale of infrastructure challenges, noting that the state faces over $20 billion in water-related needs over the next 20 years. "Today’s funding helps communities strengthen the essential systems that protect public health, support economic growth, and provide the reliable water service Arkansans depend on every day," Ward said.
The recent financial approvals aim to maintain and develop critical water systems that serve local agriculture, businesses, and families across Arkansas.