City of Leachville Awarded $200,000 through MissCo Infrastructure Grant Program

pictured, from left: Mississippi County Public Affairs Director Tom Henry, Justice Michael White, Mayor Rodney Robertson, Justice Tobye McClanahan and Justice Molly Jackson.

On June 8, 2023, the Government of Mississippi County, Arkansas announced it awarded $200,000 to the City of Leachville, Arkansas, through their Mississippi County Infrastructure Grant Program. The funding is to be used to acquire approximately 34 acres of land, both east and north of Leachville, that lines up with the current city limits. The land will be used to aid in city growth and prosperity. The city’s application stated that the land could be utilized to expand the Leachville City Wastewater plant, to draw businesses into Leachville and/or as a revenue source until plans are finalized. The city stated that the acquisition of the land is a crucial part of city growth and supporting infrastructure.

“We are proud to be able to assist the City of Leachville with these grant funds in order to aid in Leachville’s, and therefore Mississippi County’s, growth,” County Judge John Alan Nelson said.

“The City of Leachville is very grateful to the County and to Judge Nelson for the grant that will be used to acquire land to expand the City. It is great to work together to make life in Mississippi County better for our citizens,” Mayor Rodney Robertson said.

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law. Among many other provisions, ARPA provides direct funding to each county in the United States through what is called the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Relief Fund (CLFRF). Mississippi County, Arkansas received $7,895,980.00 and has designated $2,000,000 to fund the "Mississippi County Infrastructure Grant Program.”

The Mississippi County Infrastructure Grant Program will fund innovative, effective infrastructure projects designed to address the infrastructure needs of the County. Each grant will provide up to $200,000 for cities/towns within Mississippi County and can only be used for infrastructure projects pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Article 12, Section 5 as incorporated into Article 12 by Amendment 97. These grants will fund up to 75% of project costs, with 25% cost matched by the applicant municipality.

Only Mississippi County towns/cities were eligible for the grant and the funding allocated by Mississippi County for this grant program may be used to assist with Infrastructure project planning or implementation with a priority for projects that address areas of greatest need and serve those most at-risk. The following are types of projects eligible under this program: land acquisition, site preparation, rail spur construction, water service, wastewater treatment, employee training which may include equipment for such purpose, environmental mitigation and training and research facilities and the necessary equipment.

An informative workshop was held on Friday, April 7 whereby the cities were invited to learn about the grant and ask questions. Applications were received from eight cities and were “scored” by iParametrics, the county’s ARPA consultant based on application metrics.

For more information, visit the County website mississippicountyar.org/.