Pulaski Times

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) expressed gratitude for the support provided by federal regional commissions to communities in Arkansas and nationwide, particularly in response to natural disasters and economic challenges. The remarks were made during a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.

Boozman, a senior member of the EPW Committee, urged representatives from five federal-state partnership entities to simplify federal grant applications to enable state and local governments to more easily access funds intended for their use.

“Your budgets aren’t very great, but those dollars you have, being able to intervene and really knowing the communities you’re serving makes a huge difference,” Boozman stated. “In recent years Arkansas has been devastated by natural disasters from tornadoes and wind to historic flooding along the Arkansas River. The impacts of which are still being dealt with. Once the dust has settled and the rubble has been cleared, communities struggle to continue growth and retain residents.”

Boozman highlighted the challenges faced by small, rural localities such as Mountainburg, Arkansas in applying for federal grants necessary for projects like expanding water infrastructure to provide safe drinking water.

“It shouldn’t be that, if you have a good education, you have to hire a $30,000 grant writer in a very, very small community,” Boozman remarked. “I hope we can all work together on this. There’s no excuse for making things so very difficult.”