The Arkansas Economic Development Commission Division of Rural Services has awarded grants totaling $645,493 to promote wildlife education and improve school conservation programs to 206 schools, including those in Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton, Searcy and Stone Counties.
The grants are funded by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission through fines collected from hunting and fishing violations.
Baxter County received a total of $11,660 which includes:
$3,057 for the Baxter County Conservation District to purchase items for the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program (AYSSP) for liability insurance, team shirts, registration fees, instruction training fees and ammo;
$1,989 for Hacker Intermediate School to fund butterfly kits, purchase owl pellets and purchase various books on Arkansas wildlife and ecosystems;
$3,557 for the Mountain Home Junior High School to purchase AYSSP materials and items for an outdoor classroom; and
$3,057 for Pinkston Middle SChool to purchase items for ASYYP, ANASP (archery in school programs) and families in need of services (FINS).
Boone County received a total of $5,662 including:
$2,558 for Alpena High School to purchase ANASP supplies;
$1,678 for the Harrison School District to purchase ASYYP supplies; and
$1,386 for Lead Hill Elementary to purschase ANASP materials.
Fulton County received a total of $11,643 which includes:
$3,881 for the Mammoth Spring High Schcool for ANASP materials;
$3,881 for Salem High School to purchase AYSSP materials; and
$3,881 for Viola High School to purchase AYSSP materials.
Izard County received a total of $2,670 including:
$890 for the Calico Rock High School for ASYYP;
$890 for the Izard County Consolidated Elementary School to purchase items to expand the butterfly garden; and
$890 for Melbourne High School for ASYYP materials.
Marion County received $1,776 for the Flippin School District for ANASP materials.
Newton County received a total of $14,455 which includes:
$2,500 for the Deer/Mt. Judea School District for ANASP materials;
$3,500 for AYSSP materials;
$6,955 for the Jasper High School AYSSP materials; and
$1,500 for the Jasper School District to purchase replacement ANASP equipment.
Searcy County received $1,816 for the Marshall Elementary School to purchase items for the outdoor classroom.
Stone County received $4,350 for the Mountain View High School to purchase picnic tables for the outdoor clasroom.
According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, only money collected in the county where violations occurred may be used as grant funds for that county.
All schools in the state are eligible to participate in the program. The funding is said to have helped schools create and maintain archery, fishing and competitive shooting sports programs. Schools have also used the money to help improve wildlife education by purchasing education materials, materials for the creation of indoor and outdoor habitats, lab supplies and field trips to AGFC nature and education centers.
A complete list of 2023 Game and Fish Wildlife grant award recipients can be found here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI