The City of Bryant released a tease of a statement on Monday, letting the community know that they have been proactively working on stormwater projects – but there’s more.
SCROLL DOWN TO KEEP READING
The statement included a video of Mayor Chris Treat talking about what’s been done already, and what’s to come:
“Storm sounds rolling in… Stormwater is always at the top of conversation in the city of Bryant, and I wanted you to know, in the last 5 years we’ve initiated almost 50 stormwater projects and $10 million of infrastructure investment in the stormwater issues… and we’re just getting started started.”
Perhaps coincidentally, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders just released a statement on Monday as well, touting a provision of $60 million to address statewide water infrastructure needs. These two things may or may not be related, but Mayor Treat seems to be hinting at a other methods of funding the Bryant plans
Treat continues narrating the video, “Be on the lookout for a master drainage plan coming this year. We’re going to ask you how to prioritize and fund that plan. Again, this is just the beginning.”
A master drainage plan set to be completed before the end of the year. We’ll update on the possibility of Bryant getting some of the State money for water projects. Read the Governor’s full statement below.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas is providing $60 million to address statewide water infrastructure needs. This includes $55 million to address water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5 million for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to assist water and wastewater systems across the state. The legislature approved these funds in Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) on June 21, 2024.
“My administration has worked with our federal partners to appropriately put money into Arkansas’ water infrastructure development, and this announcement adds to that commitment,” said Governor Sanders. “Every Arkansan deserves safe and accessible drinking water, and with this funding, we will move closer to that goal.”
“Water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critically important to the everyday lives of all Arkansans,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We appreciate Governor Sanders’ consistent leadership on water issues and will work diligently to utilize these newly approved funds, as well as our existing programs and efforts, to meet water and wastewater needs across the state.”
These federal funds build on Governor Sanders’ existing efforts to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the state and provide dependable services to all Arkansans. Under Governor Sanders’ leadership, the State of Arkansas is administering over $2.5 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds.
To be eligible for the funding announced today, water and wastewater projects must be on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) waitlist approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) in December 2022. Projects will receive funding based on their readiness to proceed to construction and must expense all funds by December 31, 2026.
In addition to today’s announcement, Governor Sanders has launched a comprehensive analysis and review of Arkansas’ State Water Plan.