55th Annual AAC Conference | Association of Arkansas Counties

Tourism in Arkansas is breaking records, not only surpassing pre-pandemic numbers but growing tourism spending well into the billions of dollars. Arkansas Director of Tourism Travis Napper said the number of visitors in the state continues to grow.

Of the seven Southwest Arkansas counties surveyed all showed a decrease in the jobless rate from March to April, according to ADWS statistics.

Electric cars are becoming more in demand around the state, and officials working to adjust the need of adding charging stations. Scott Hardin with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said the state received 54.1 million dollars in federal funding for the next five years to increase charging locations.

On March 30, the U.S. Department of Transportation posted a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) competitive grant program. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), $1.18 billion is available now for eligible entities – restricted to only local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and Tribes – to develop safety action plans or to implement existing approved plans at an 80 percent federal match.

According to the Department of Finance and Administration data from 2022, thousands of people have recently chosen Arkansas as their home.

April 18 deadline, other dates extended to July 31.

Arkansas lawmakers sent Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders legislation that would raise the property tax credit that thousands of homeowners receive for their primary residence.

Three Arkansas counties are now designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Arkansas Department of Health said this designation will allow healthcare organizations to recruit medical professionals in rural communities.