ARKANSAS
www.recovery.arkansas.gov
As of October 13, 2009:
| Agency Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Funds Announced | $2,248,383,498 | 35 |
| Funds Available | $1,995,599,808 | 34 |
| Funds Paid Out | $788,458,793 | 34 |
| | | |
| Recipient Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Number of Awards | 43 | 42 |
| Funds Awarded | $59,148,946 | 40 |
| Funds Awarded Per Capita | $21 | 41 |
| Funds Received | $6,676,854 | 41 |
| Jobs Created / Saved | 163 | 38 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1 | 39 |
Notes: All Rankings are from Highest to Lowest. For example, a ranking of15 for “Funds Announced” means that the state had the 15th highest amount offunds announced. A ranking of 15 for the unemployment rate means that thisstate has the 15th highest unemployment rate.
Terms defined by http://www.recovery.gov/
Recipient Reported Data: These data are based on data submitted by federal contract recipients to www.federalreporting.gov between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10, 2009. On Oct. 30, 2009, the final recipient federal contract data and the final data on grants and loans will be available. It is collected and updated quarterly.
Agency Reported Data: These data are based on weekly Financial and ActivityReports filed by federal agencies receiving Recovery Act Funds.
Funds Announced: Funds that have been publicly announced as availableto entities outside of the federal government. Not all available fundsare announced publicly. For example, the funds going to a project startedprior to the Recovery Act that are commingled with the project’s Recovery fundswill not be announced publicly before being made available to arecipient. The Funds Announced figure should not be viewed as the totalfunding that an agency has made available.
Funds Available(Obligation): The term used todescribe when an agency informs the public of the release of money torecipients either immediately or in the future.
Funds Awarded: This is the amount of contract dollars that will bemade available to recipients.
Funds Paid Out: Funds that have been released from a federal agencyto a recipient.
Funds Received:The amount of money each recipient received from a federal award.
Recent Updates
June 2, 2009
Stimulus funds are available for “green” projects in Arkansas according to Channel 11, with the total reaching at least $165 million. Those funds are made up of spending and tax cuts aimed at increasing energy efficiency and developing alternative energy sources. Also likely to see a boost in Arkansas: the state's new wind power industry. Indirect benefits from the stimulus include more windmill production as the nation diversifies its energy sources to include wind power.
May 31, 2009
Federal stimulus funds will bring Tasers that automatically record video footage to the police in Fayetteville, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
May 30, 2009
Arkansas' small businesses will get a boost from the federal stimulus, according to Sen. Blanch Lincoln. The Morning News reported that she noted the U.S. Treasury Department this week approved using $55 million from the stimulus to provide tax incentives for economic development projects in lower-income and rural communities in Arkansas.
May 27, 2009
According to an Associated Press report, the Arkansas Department of Human Services is hiring 112 temporary workers to focus on family services. As full time jobs become open the state will draw on the temporary workers. Funding for the positions is coming from federal economic stimulus money and from a match by the federal Medicaid program. They are contributing about $3 million each.
The jobs will pay about $28,000 a year and will end at the end of 2010, which is when the $6 million will run out.
The agency says most of the workers will be used to determine the eligibility of families for public assistance, such as for food stamps and Medicaid. Applications are up because of the recession.
May 23, 2009
Bids are being awarded for transportation projects funded with federal stimulus funds. The Ft. Smith Times Record reports that a $1.1 million resurfacing project will generate employment for a crew of about 17 and a second widening project should produce about 12 to 50 jobs in its different phases.
April 17, 2009
In a memo released on April 16, the Arkansas Recovery Office reports the office has "conducted weekly meetings with director and personnel of various state agencies to ensure that ARRA funds are being handled properly and in accordance with guidelines set by the federal government."
Agencies have begun distributing ARRA dollars through the Departments of Education, Human Services, State Highway and Transportation and Workforce Services.
March 25, 2009
Gov. Beebe has received a letter from the Obama administration clarifying that state changes to unemployment insurance laws required to qualify for federal stimulus money can later be modified and not risk repayment of the federal funds, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The paper report that the business community remains skepitcal.
Legislators are looking to the federal stimulus for funding of a technology incentives bill passed by a Senate committee on March 23, according to Arkansas Online. Bill sponsor Sen. Shane Broadway said he hoped to use $30 million from the state's surplus or from federal stimulus money to fund the incentives.
March 18, 2009
Reports from Arkansas Online say that cities are scurrying to hire professional lobbyists to insure that they get as much of the federal stimulus dollars as possible.
March 11, 2009
With Arkansas’ share of the new state stimulus plan expected to be at least $2.9 billion, Gov. Mark Beebe has established a new Web site detailing his state’s efforts to spend the money. Key provisions and spending priorities for the state include:
- $370.7 million for public education
- Additional $133.8 million in Title I money for public school students in poverty
- $358 million for transportation to improve existing roadways and bridges
- $730 million for Medicaid
In addition, Gov. Beebe has established a “Recovery Cabinet” composed of his Cabinet and Agency leaders to oversee the state's handling of the federal stimulus package. That group will convene the week of March 2nd to discuss the handling of the federal dollars. This effort, however, does not sit well with some lawmakers, who view their role in the allocation of stimulus dollars as small. Leaders of the House and Senate have said they've put together a group of lawmakers to focus on the stimulus money and what role the Legislature will have in deciding where the money will go. However, Rep. Bruce Maloch, co-chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, said he's concerned that there may not be much say for lawmakers on the money.