Area Counties Benefit from U.S. Forest Service Grants

Several counties in Arkansas and Missouri are among those receiving funding from the U.S. Forest Service.

Arkansas is set to receive over $6.7 million while Missouri will receive over $2.6 million from the Secure Rural Schools program which provides funding for schools, roads and other municipal services to benefit communities in and around national forest Land. Each county decides what percentage of their funding will go schools and roads, projects on federal lands or county projects according to a release from the Forest Service. 

Counties in Arkansas receiving grant money for the Ozark National Forest include Madison, Marion, Newton, and Searcy Counties while in Missouri, counties benefiting for areas of the Mark Twain Forest include Barry, Christian, Douglas, Ozark, Stone, and Taney. 

The money comes from a portion of Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, including grazing, timber production and special use permits. The distribution will come this month from last year’s funds according to the U.S. Forest release. 

Base Payments for each county is below:
Arkansas
Madison   $84,313.71
Marion      $8,463.55
Newton     $472,177.45
Searcy      $96,204.96 

Missouri
Barry        $99,098.20
Christian  $73,973.58
Douglas   $105,931.71
Ozark       $88,536.62
Stone       $19,645.48
Taney       $113,518.99