DEADLINE : To submit applications for infrastructure projects from the Capital Projects Fund is midnight on
Thursday, June 30, 2022

American Rescue Plan (ARPA)Steering Committee

Fiscal Recovery Fund
$1.573 Billion
Capital Projects Fund
$157 Million
City Fund
$1.7 million
Contact your local municipality to access more information regarding the funds distributed to cities.
City Contact Search

County Fund

$586,173,048
Learn More about ARPA Funding to Counties
County ARPA Info

State Funding

The State has received two sources of funding via the ARPA funding that will be the responsibility of this committee to identify and prioritize the needs of Arkansas. The State Fiscal Recovery Fund for Arkansas has been allocated to provide relief for Arkansans and the Capital Projects Fund has been allocated to provide much needed funding for infrastructure projects. Program guidance for these funding sources can be found at: Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments | U.S. Department of the Treasury
Assistance for State, Local, and Tribal Governments | U.S. Department of the Treasury

About ARPA

The Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee was created to study and analyze the relief available to the State of Arkansas, its citizens, and businesses under ARPA, identify and prioritize the needs of the State of Arkansas, its citizens and businesses for the application of available relief, identify the most efficient practices and procedures to obtain and apply available relief; and make recommendations to the Governor on best uses of the American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Primary uses of ARP

  • The Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 steering committee( AR ARP Steering Committee), which shall serve as an investigative and advisory body of the Governor.
  • The Steering committee shall be composed of members appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, Larry Walther, shall serve as chairman of the committee.
  • The member of the Steering committee shall have the following duties:
  • Study and analyze the relief available to the State of Arkansas, its citizens, and businesses under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021;
  • Identify and prioritize the needs of the State of Arkansas, its citizens, and business for the application of available relief;
  • Identify the most efficient practices and procedures to obtain and apply available relief; and
  • Make recommendations to the Governor on best uses of the American Rescue Plan Act Funding;
  • Utilize advisory committees or working groups as needed within the private sector to assist in the development of investment plans for the American Rescue Plan funds.
  • Upon request, the Department of Finance and Administration may provide staff and other personnel to suppor the work of the Steering committe
Read the Governor’s Executive Order
$1.3 Billion
Learn more about status
$1.3 Billion
Estimated amounts the state will put toward the Water, Broadband & Workforce
Water
Broadband
Workforce

Governor’s Working

Groups of the Cabinet

Water Projects

On June 29, 2021, Governor Hutchinson established working groups to develop ideas, recommendations, and plans for consideration to the American Rescue Plan Steering Committee. The working groups consist of broadband, water and other infrastructure projects, and workforce development and human capital. The Arkansas Water Plan (AWP) is the state’s policy for long-term water management. In 2012, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission held meetings and hearings throughout the state to assess the current state of water resources and infrastructure and to determine the future needs. The update to the Arkansas Water Plan was completed in 2014.

Click to Learn Water Projects

Members Involved:

Wes Ward, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Chair | Major General Kendall Penn, Secretary, Department of the Military | Solomon Graves, Secretary, Department of Corrections | Dr. Jose Romero, Secretary, Department of Health | Jami Cook, Secretary, Department of Public Safety | Becky Keogh, Secretary, Department of Energy and Environment | Steve Eggensperger, Governor’s Liaison for Military and Public Safety, Ex-officio | Mary Robin Casteel, Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor, Ex-officio

Broadband Projects

The Governor requested that the working group identify the existing broadband resources as well as the broadband needs of the state. The Governor appointed five cabinet secretaries to the working group with Stacy Hurst, Secretary of ADPHT, serving as Chair. The Governor advised that the state needed a written plan for broadband that included supporting existing programs such as the ARC program while partnering with cities and counties that are leading separate broadband initiatives. The plan should also include identifying the most accurate information related to connectivity in the state. The Governor requested that the broadband working committee move with a sense of urgency as the deployment of broadband is essential to our communities to be connected at both home and work including connectivity for healthcare providers and educational institutions.

Click to Learn Broadband Projects

Members Involved:

Stacy Hurst, Secretary, Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Chair | Larry Walther, Secretary, Department of Finance and Administration | Mike Preston, Secretary, Department of Commerce | Amy Fecher, Secretary, Department of Transformation and Shared Services | Elizabeth Smith, Secretary, Department of Inspector General | Bill Gossage, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ex-officio | Steven Porch, Chief Legal Counsel for the Department of Commerce and Executive Broadband Manager for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Arkansas Rural Connect program, Ex-officio

Workforce Projects

The Governor requested that the working group identify the existing broadband resources as well as the broadband needs of the state. The Governor appointed five cabinet secretaries to the working group with Stacy Hurst, Secretary of ADPHT, serving as Chair. The Governor advised that the state needed a written plan for broadband that included supporting existing programs such as the ARC program while partnering with cities and counties that are leading separate broadband initiatives. The plan should also include identifying the most accurate information related to connectivity in the state. The Governor requested that the broadband working committee move with a sense of urgency as the deployment of broadband is essential to our communities to be connected at both home and work including connectivity for healthcare providers and educational institutions.

Click to Learn Workforce Projects

Members Involved:

Commerce Secretary Mike Preston, Chair | Labor & Licensing Secretary Daryl Bassett | Human Services Secretary Cindy Gillespie | Education Secretary Johnny Key | Veterans Affairs Secretary Nate Todd | Rick Neal, Governor’s Office – Ready for Life (ex officio) | ADE Chief Operating Office Gina Windle (ex officio)

Meet the 

Committee Members

Chair

Secretary Larry Walther Department of Finance & Administration

Email: larry.walther@dfa.arkansas.gov

Co-Chair

Secretary Stacy Hurst of the Department of Parks, Heritage, & Tourism

Email: stacy.hurst@arkansas.gov

Committee

Secretary Cindy Gillespie of the Department of Human Services

Email: Cindy.Gillespie@dhs.arkansas.gov

 

Secretary Mike Preston of the Department of Commerce

Email: mpreston@arkansasedc.com

 

Secretary Wes Ward of Department of Agriculture

Email: wes.ward@agriculture.arkasnas.gov

 

Secretary AJ Gary of the Department of Public Safety

Email: aj.gary@arkansas.gov

Secretary Johnny Key of the Department of Education

Email: johnny.key@ade.arkansas.gov

Secretary Daryl Bassett of the Department of Labor and Licensing

Email: daryl.bassett@arkansas.gov

Secretary Renee Mallory of the Department of Health

Email: renee.mallory@arkansas.gov

Senator Bill Sample Arkansas Senate

Email: bill.sample@senate.ar.gov

Senator Keith ingram Arkansas Senate

Email: friendsforkeith@gmail.com

Senator Ronald Caldwell Arkansas Senate

Email: ronald.caldwell@senate.ar.gov

Representative Kenneth Ferguson Arkansas House of Representatives
Email: kenneth.ferguson@arkansashouse.org

Representative Jeffery Wardlaw Arkansas House of Representatives

Email: jeff@jeffwardlaw.com

Representative Frances Cavenaugh Arkansas House of Representatives

Email: frances.cavenaugh@arkansashouse.org

Important Links

Rental Assistance | Arkansas Department of Human Services
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 2021 Report

Stay Informed

Your comments and questions are welcomed. Please submit these via email to: ARPA_SteeringCommittee@dfa.arkansas.gov. If you would like to stay informed on upcoming meetings please submit your email below!
Your comments and questions are welcomed. Please submit these via email to: ARPA_SteeringCommittee@dfa.arkansas.gov. If you would like to stay informed on upcoming meetings please submit your email below!

State Fiscal Recovery Funds Proposal Application

If you believe your project qualifies you for aid please fill out the following request form. Proposal Guidance (PDF) 

Fill Out Proposal Application Here

Meeting Materials

View Past Meeting Videos
Past Meetings Documents

Upcoming Meetings

If you would like to be notified of upcoming meetings. Please submit your email below.

View Live via Arkansas PBS
Updated on September 26, 2023