Arkansas Secures Funding for Digital and Housing Programs

Two nonprofits in Arkansas, El Centro Hispano and Life Skills for Youth, have received over $3 million in federal funding to enhance digital access and literacy programs as part of the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. In a separate initiative, Legal Aid of Arkansas will expand its services statewide using a HUD grant to combat evictions, addressing a significant need as evidenced by over 1,300 eviction filings last year in Washington and Benton counties alone. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated nearly $12 billion in disaster recovery funding for 24 states, including Arkansas, which will receive nearly $80 million to rebuild infrastructure and support disaster-impacted communities. This funding aims to develop affordable housing, support small businesses, and repair critical infrastructure, with a focus on benefiting low- and moderate-income households.