(a) (1) There is created within the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program to be administered by the commission.(2) The commission may hire personnel necessary to carry out the duties of administering the program.
(1) There is created within the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program to be administered by the commission.
(2) The commission may hire personnel necessary to carry out the duties of administering the program.
(b) The commission shall:(1) Create an application form to be submitted by eligible water and sewer treatment facilities seeking a matching grant from the program;(2) Devise an application process that:(A) Defines the eligibility criteria for a matching grant; and(B) Establishes application submission and review processes;(3) Define a process by which grants may be awarded;(4) Execute standard legal grant agreements and other documentation governing the disbursement and use of grants; and(5) Provide a matching grant to eligible water and sewer treatment facilities for infrastructure and improvement projects that are shovel-ready.
(1) Create an application form to be submitted by eligible water and sewer treatment facilities seeking a matching grant from the program;
(2) Devise an application process that:(A) Defines the eligibility criteria for a matching grant; and(B) Establishes application submission and review processes;
(A) Defines the eligibility criteria for a matching grant; and
(B) Establishes application submission and review processes;
(3) Define a process by which grants may be awarded;
(4) Execute standard legal grant agreements and other documentation governing the disbursement and use of grants; and
(5) Provide a matching grant to eligible water and sewer treatment facilities for infrastructure and improvement projects that are shovel-ready.
(c) A recipient of a grant awarded under this section shall:(1) Begin the recipient's project within one (1) year of the award of the grant funds; and(2) Not be eligible for another grant until the awarded grant has been closed out.
(1) Begin the recipient's project within one (1) year of the award of the grant funds; and
(2) Not be eligible for another grant until the awarded grant has been closed out.
(d) Funding under the program shall be awarded as follows:(1) Eighty percent (80%) shall be awarded for shovel-ready projects in:(A) Cities of the first class and cities of the second class with a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); or(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); and(2) Twenty percent (20%) shall be awarded in:(A) Incorporated towns and cities of the second class with a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less; or(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less.
(1) Eighty percent (80%) shall be awarded for shovel-ready projects in:(A) Cities of the first class and cities of the second class with a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); or(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); and
(A) Cities of the first class and cities of the second class with a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); or
(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population over one thousand two hundred (1,200); and
(2) Twenty percent (20%) shall be awarded in:(A) Incorporated towns and cities of the second class with a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less; or(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less.
(A) Incorporated towns and cities of the second class with a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less; or
(B) Rural water and rural wastewater systems serving a population of one thousand two hundred (1,200) or less.
(e) The commission shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
(f) The program shall expire five (5) years from April 17, 2025.
(g) The commission shall report annually to the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee, regarding the status of all grants awarded under the program.