Gov. Sanders announces $478K in state water infrastructure funding

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday announced $478,670 in financial assistance for water and wastewater projects serving four Arkansas entities, including one with statewide reach.Three of the funded projects will directly serve more than 8,900 Arkansans. The fourth supports the Arkansas Rural Water Association’s statewide operator certification and training program, which received a $120,000 grant from the Water Development Fund.

Other funding approved includes a $286,640 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan to Bryant in Saline County for the Lea Circle Parallel Gravity Sewer Project, serving roughly 8,496 customers; a $51,224 Water Development Fund loan to Felsenthal in Union County for sewer collection repairs, serving 56 customers; and a $20,806 Water Development Fund loan to the Nail-Swain Water Association in Newton County for water tank rehabilitation, serving 379 customers.

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission also adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of up to $48.5 million in general obligation bonds to support water, waste disposal, and pollution-abatement projects under the commission’s approved Fiscal Years 2026–2027 Plan of Work.

Current bond authority is expected to be fully depleted by summer 2027. The Arkansas Legislature passed Act 578 of 2025, which will place a question before voters in November 2026 on whether to authorize an additional $500 million in general obligation bond authority.

Since taking office, Sanders has approved nearly $2.8 billion in state and federal funds for water projects across all 75 Arkansas counties.

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