Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Receives $9 Million In Grants, Loans

Tuesday was a good day for Prescott and Nevada County as grants for several million dollars were bestowed.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown welcomed representatives from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED), who brought the checks.

"We're fortunate to have these people bring money," he said, "some we have to pay back and some we don't."

The courthouse was filled with those getting grant and loan money and well-wishers from the community.

In all, some $9 million in grants and loans were presented during the festivities.

Alan McVey, the deputy director with ADED, said it was a day of celebration for the county and a unique opportunity for the state.

"When you talk about making economic progress," he said, "you know we can't do without natural resources to improve the quality of life.

"Through improving the quality of life in this area, it opens great economic opportunity in the entire area as well. We at ADED are excited about the future opportunities."

Three areas received funds for water projects, two in Nevada County and one in Hempstead County.

One of these projects is the Waterloo-Bodcaw program which has been a long time in coming to fruition.

The other two areas were the Prescott Rural Water Project and the Hope-Hempstead County LMI water system.

McVey said the money presented would help the area overcome one last obstacle in providing adequate and quality drinking water.

His first visit to the region was a learning experience as McVey found it hard to believe how many people didn't have adequate water available for their needs.

In talking about the Waterloo-Bodcaw project, he said these people had an uphill battle from the outset.

First, Willisville had agreed to work with Waterloo on the project but backed out.

Then Rosston got involved. It reached a point where the money was in place and almost everything was ready to go before Rosston backed out.

McVey said it looked like the project was dead until Bodcaw's mayor, Larry Hicks pledged the support of his community.

Even then it wasn't easy. The major problem the project ran into was finding an adequate supply of water.

Test wells were drilled with no success. Eventually, the problem was solved by reaching an agreement to tie into the Hope water system.

Meanwhile, McVey said, the ADED had to make sure the money stayed in place and wasn't given to another community.

"There is a lot of competition for these funds," he said.

Hicks beamed when the check for $1 million was presented. "It's been a long hard road, but on behalf of the people of Waterloo and Bodcaw,

we appreciate everything you've done for us," he said.

"It's been a team effort. We couldn't have done it by ourselves and with the help of everyone involved, it's finally become a reality and we'll be able to get god drinking water from our faucets. It's something we haven't been able to do for years."

Hicks said this project has helped him gain more respect for the state leaders as they pitched in an helped when called on this project. "They made stepping stones out of the problems."

Arkansas, McVey said, is gaining a reputation as being a "solution state" across the nation.

Gov. Mike Huckabee, he continued, made it clear to those at ADED obstacles had to be overcame urging the organization to be innovative and creative but make things happen.

McVey also announced the senior citizens grant for Prescott. This, too, he said, improves the quality of life for those who use the center.

"It's been a pleasure to participate in this as well," he said. "We're here to serve you. Huckabee believes this as well. Our job is to be supportive, helpful and make good things happen."

Darla Banks, with the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission, was on hand to give out loans to the different projects.

She commended the various communities on their efforts for the water projects saying it's been tough and there were a lot of meetings along with plenty of disappointments.

"But you persevered," Banks said, "and made it through."

Carla Thibideaux, representing Congressman Jay Dickey, said the water project for Waterloo and Bodcaw has taken many years, but the officials involved kept battling to make it a reality.

"We first learned about it in 1995," she said. The water project will serve more than 500 customers when completed.

On the senior citizens center, she said, such places have proven to be good for those who visit. "It helps keep them young and feel needed."

State Sen. Mike Ross said it was a good day for Prescott and Nevada County.

The senior center, he said, will help keep a lot of people out of nursing homes, while providing them a warm meal daily.

The water project for Prescott is now coming about, with people needing to be encouraged to sign up and pay their deposit. "There's a lot of work to do in this project."

On the Waterloo-Bodcaw project Ross said it started a long time ago when Waterloo first contacted former State Rep. Judy Smith about needing better water.

It was first thought, he continued, Willisville would work with Waterloo, but this didn't happen.

Next was Rosston, but this, too, fell apart. Then Bodcaw stepped in saying it wanted to be involved.

Ross spoke with former ADED director Del Boyette who informed him the ADED, then the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, couldn't help the project get bumped ahead of others on the list.

This, though, proved to be wrong, as the Waterloo-Bodcaw project did jump to the forefront in an unprecedented move.

Now, he said, the project is becoming a reality.

State Rep. Percy Malone told the gathering he "tagged along" but wasn't really as heavily involved as some others were.

"This happened," he said, "because the people of Nevada County wouldn't take no for an answer. These projects will help the economy by bringing in prospects."

Malone said it's always a good idea to take care of our senior citizens, which is being done in Nevada County.

"Now," he said, "there are a lot of good things happening here. It's because the local government and leaders are working together. This makes it easy for the ADED and ASWC to come in and not have to worry. It shows how with everyone working together, good things happen."

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor accepted a grant check for $2,633,495 for the Prescott Rural Water Project.

He said years have been put into this project, but it was one of his goals as interim mayor getting water to the north part of the county.

"I thought we could do it quickly," he said, "but this didn't happen. Government is efficient, but slow."

Taylor praised Irma Sue Purtle for the work she put in to help get the grant for the senior center, saying she has been devoted and helped get the project underway.

Land for the center was donated by a local woman, while about $80,000 has been donated by people from the community.

"I'm glad for all these projects," he said. "But when we get ready to turn dirt, this is when people really get excited. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."

Judy Smith was also on hand. She said this has been a long time coming for the people of Waterloo. "They were hopeless for a long time because of the water problem. I was surprised to find people living without access to water when they called.

"The 21st century is here and it's sad people still have to haul water.

"This isn't just a day of celebration," she continued, "but a hallelujah day."

Brown closed the proceedings saying he got involved with the Waterloo-Bodcaw project in '96 when he first ran for county judge.

At the time, he pledged to help get water to the area and, once elected, worked to keep his promise.

"I knew there were water problems in the summer," he said, "but I didn't know how severe.

"This took a lot of hard work by a lot of people and I don't know how to thank everybody."