Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

$1.5 Million Grant Awarded

Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (AIDC) has agreed to award a $1.5 million grant to the proposed Bodcaw-Waterloo Rural Water System.

The agreement was reached after three months of negotiations between Senator Mike Ross of Prescott and officials with AIDC. Details for the grant were finalized at a meeting called by Ross and held at AIDC on January 14 in Little Rock.

Those participating in the meeting were Ross; Representative Percy Malone of Arkadelphia, Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown; Bodcaw Mayor Larry Hicks; and Chandler Russ, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office (EDO) and representatives with Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District (SWAPDD). Representative Judy Smith of Camden also worked with Ross to secure funding for this project.

The rural water project will cover about 500 homes in Waterloo, Bodcaw and surrounding areas. The grant was submitted on behalf of Bodcaw and prepared by EDO and SWAPDD.

The grant agreement requires Waterloo, Bodcaw and surrounding areas to obtain all signatures, deposits and easements within approximately a six-month period.

The agreement also requires construction to begin at Waterloo, since they initiated the original grant application in the late 1980s.

"The real winners are residents in southern Nevada County," said Brown. "These improvements are good steps taken by Bodcaw and Waterloo and should help to promote growth and development in the future."

Brown thanked everyone involved in the securing of these funds, but he also reminds affected residents that much work still lies ahead to ensure the construction and completion of this rural water project.

"The time criteria for signatures, deposits and easements is short and cooperation by affected residents is important to the success of this project," Brown said.

Hicks said, "On behalf of the people in Bodcaw and Waterloo, a special thanks goes to Sen. Ross, Rep. Smith, Rep. Malone, AIDC, the EDO and the SWAPDD for securing these much needed funds. We really appreciate the backing and support of these people. This will help us have a clean water supply from now on."

"This is about improving the quality of life for area residents in southern Nevada County," Ross said. "We as legislators refused to accept that Waterloo, Bodcaw and surrounding areas could not have a safe and adequate water supply, something they have been trying to accomplish for nearly a decade. The AIDC, Judge Brown, Mayor Hicks and the residents of Waterloo, Bodcaw and surrounding areas should be commended for their hard work to help secure this rural water project.

"I also want to personally thank Rep. Judy Smith and Rep. Percy Malone for their active participation on this project," Ross added.

"The 1.5 million dollar grant, coupled with a loan by Bodcaw, will provide the needed infrastructure for many people in southern Nevada County," Ross continued. "The bottom line is that these residents need water and we are able to provide the funding mechanisms so this project can become a reality."

"In partnership with Nevada County, the SWAPDD commends the leadership of Nevada County and their overall persistence and dedication to serving the rural water needs of Nevada County," Bonnie Dumas, director of economic develpment for SWAPDD, said.

"Senator Ross and other legislators underplay their role in securing these grant funds," Dumas continued. "Without their guidance and leadership, this project is a much needed piece in the development puzzle.

"Nevada County is positioning itself for sustainable development by obtaining funds to build infrastructure," Dumas said. "We are not finished, and in reality, are just getting started in this development process.

"This is a prime example of what can be accomplished through the collaboration of local officials, county officials, state legislators, state agencies and area residents toward a common goal. I would like to stress that a thank you is owed to these state legislators and SWAPDD. Without them, I can assure you we would not have received this needed project."

Construction is expected to begin with the next 12 to 16 months. The construction is to begin at Waterloo and work to Bodcaw. This project, when completed, will mark approximately nine years of effort towards securing water for southern Nevada County.