Community Projects

Community Projects

Fiscal Year 2026

Steel Manufacturing Research at the Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM)

Recipient: Arkansas State University System

Location: Lab Science West – South Caraway Rd, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401

Amount of Request: $5,000,000

Details: The funding will be used to develop the Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM) ‘s research capabilities, utilizing data analytics and artificial intelligence to analyze material design, efficient production processes, and enhance computational modeling.

Justification: The purpose of this project is to add additional opportunities for the Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM) at Arkansas State University to support the needs of the steel industry in Mississippi County, Arkansas.  The current expansion of Steel manufacturing in Mississippi County, Arkansas, is on track to cement Arkansas’s status as the number one steel-producing state in the nation, which, at this time, is exceedingly essential to the national security and economic well-being of the country.

Financial Disclosure and Certification

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine

Recipient: North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

Location: 620 N. Main Street Harrison, AR 72601

Amount of Request: $337,546

Details: The funding will support North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC)’s purchase and installation of a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine for their radiology services to replace the existing MRI system, which is nearly 15 years old and nearing the end of its manufacturer-supported lifespan.

Justification: A new MRI machine is essential for sustaining and expanding critical access to diagnostic imaging for the more than 85,000 residents living in NARMC’s five-county, rural service area. An MRI machine is a noninvasive medical imaging tool that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of almost every internal structure in the human body. An MRI machine is used to diagnose a wide range of conditions, such as tumors and strokes, and is also used to monitor how well a treatment is working or to assess the progression of a disease. This technology offers significantly improved image quality, faster scan times, and expanded diagnostic capabilities. The advanced software included in the new MRI machine will improve image clarity and reduce noise, leading to more accurate diagnoses and fewer repeat scans.

Financial Disclosure and Certification

TC-1 Transitional Mental Health Facility – Forrest City, Arkansas

Recipient: Arisa Health, Inc.

Location: 2400 S. 48th St. Springdale, AR 72764

Amount of Request: $460,000

Details: The funding will be used to construct a new, purpose-built TC-1 transitional mental health treatment facility in Forrest City, Arkansas, to offer secure, 24/7 residential treatment to clients diagnosed with serious mental illness who require intensive supervision, therapy, and long-term support.

Justification: The Arisa Health TC-1 Transitional Facility in Forrest City will provide a lifesaving, safety-promoting, community-stabilizing investment. It bridges a gap in Arkansas’s behavioral health system by providing a secure, therapeutic environment for individuals whose lives and conditions require it. The proposed Level 1 Transitional Care (TC) Unit is a highly structured residential program specifically designed for individuals with severe behavioral health conditions or complex mental health needs. This unit will provide the intensive treatment, structure, and supervision necessary to promote stability, reduce recidivism, and support successful reintegration into the community. It relieves pressure on law enforcement and medical providers, reduces taxpayer costs, and creates opportunities for clients to live with dignity, purpose, and safety.

Financial Disclosure and Certification

Previous years can be found below: