The purpose of this agreement is for a capitalization grant which provides funds for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf) program

This $19.86 million Formula Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides funding to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2025. The grant capitalizes Arkansas' Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to provide low-interest financing to public water systems for infrastructure projects that protect public health through improved compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. This includes $1.9 million in sub-awards to the Cities of Mena, Mitchellville, and Reed, as well as to Central Arkansas Water, for water treatment plant upgrades, water main replacements, and related improvements to support reliable delivery of safe drinking water. The grant also supports the state program to build technical, managerial, and financial capacity in small community water systems.

The activities are to provide low interest financing to recipients for costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of their eligible water quality improvement projects and activities to protect human health. The expected outcomes are to establish and manage an effective comprehensive dwsrf program and to maintain a self-sustaining revolving fund to improve and protect water quality and public health for citizens throughout the state. Dwsrf grants are for infrastructure improvement projects that are needed to achieve or maintain compliance with the sdwa requirements, protect public health, and assist systems with economic need. These grants also support state programs to help systems build and maintain technical, managerial and financial capacity. There are no subawards under this agreement.