Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Okolona Given Fire Grant

Okolona has garnered a grant to help purchase a building for a fire department.

The Arkansas Rural Development Commission (ARDC) announced the recipients for the Cycle III grants through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant, Arkansas Rural Fire Protection Grant and Arkansas Rural Community Planning Grant programs.

Rep. Percy Malone was on hand for the awards ceremony at Eureka Springs, Friday, May 30, when the grants were bestowed.

He worked with the people of Okolona to get this grant, as well as helping others procure grants for projects, in the area of fire protection.

During the ceremonies, grants were awarded to 50 communities across the state for a total of $264,480.

Since its inception in July, 1993, the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program has allocated funds for 343 projects in Arkansas' 75 counties, totalling $1,951,525.

Incorporated cities and towns, along with unincorporated communities in rural areas with populations of less than 3,000 are eligible for assistance.

Funds from these programs are distributed on a 50-50 matching basis, with some local in-kind donations eligible for the match.

Applicants may request up to $15,000 per project through the programs. The Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program funds such projects as publicly owned community centers, parks and recreational areas, along with fire protection equipment, facilities and vehicles.