SAVE THE DATE: 2012 Rural Development Conference

Join us for food, fun, and fantastic information regarding issues pertinent to our Rural Arkansas.

May 22nd - May 24th, 2012

The Best Western Inn of the Ozarks and Convention Center

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Hotel Reservations are available with:

Best Western Inn of the Ozarks

207 W. Van Buren

Eureka Springs, AR  72632

1-800-552-3785

Overflow hotels:

1905 Basin Park Hotel

Toll-Free:  1-877-643-4972

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Toll-Free:  1-877-342-9766

Best Western Eureka Inn

Toll-Free:  1-800-221-3344 

For more information regarding the conference:

Phone: 501-682-6011

Toll free: 888-787-2527

E-mail: Stephanie.Neipling@arkansas.gov

Click here for the Registration Form and Agenda for the 2012 Rural Development Conference.

Rural Community Grant Applications Available for Fiscal Year 2013

Rural Community Grant applications are now available for Fiscal Year 2013 from the

Department of Rural Services. You may download an application by clicking

on DRS Grants to the left of this page or request one by calling 1.888.787.2527.

The deadlines are August 17, 2012 (Cycle 1), December 7, 2012 (Cycle 2), and March 15, 2013 (Cycle 3). 

values and way of life through a variety of grants.

Two such grants are the Rural Community Development Grant

Program and the Rural Community Fire Protection Grant Program.

Under these programs, the Department of Rural Services with assistance

from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission fund projects

such as baseball/softball fields, community parks, walking trails,

community centers, fire stations, fire trucks and other fire protection

related equipment. DRS accepts and funds applications three times

each fiscal year. Our upcoming deadlines for the Rural Community Grants

are August 17, 2012, December 7, 2012, and March 15, 2013.

In July 1999, DRS added two additional programs to assist rural

communities. The first is the County Fair Building Grant Program.

As we all know, the county fair is an integral part of life in rural

Arkansas, but they need money to stay viable. The County Fair

Building Grant Program has been established to help meet some

of these monetary needs. Fair associations located in counties

with a population of 55,000 or less are eligible to apply for up to

$4,000 per year under the program. Communities must provide

50% of the cost of the project as match to qualify for the grant.

The next deadlines for this grant is August 17, 2012. We strongly

encourage all counties/county fair associations to apply.

The second is the Rural Services Block Grant Program. The

Rural Services Block Grant Program was established through

a partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development

Commission. Unlike the other DRS grant programs, the source

of funding is federal dollars from Housing and Urban Development.

Under the Block Grant, communities with a population of 3,000 or

less and whose population is 51% low to moderate income are

eligible to apply for grants. Applications for this grant program

are currently available. This fiscal year's deadline is December 7, 2012.