Member Designated Community Project Requests - FY2025
U.S. Representative Steve Womack submitted the following FY2025 Community Project Funding Member requests to the House Committee on Appropriations in May 2024:
Click each project name to download the Member certification form for each project.
Project Name: Arkansas Highway 112
Request Amount: $10,000,000
Intended Recipient: Arkansas Department of Transportation
Address of the Intended Recipient: 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Explanation of the request: This project will fund the construction of safety, operational and congestion improvements on various segments of Highway 112 from Bentonville to Fayetteville. These improvements will include major widening, raised medians, pedestrian improvements, traffic signal upgrades, and roundabouts. Highway 112 is the only continuous, north-south route west of Interstate 49 in Northwest Arkansas. This corridor serves local and regional traffic between Fayetteville and Bentonville, making it crucial for regional mobility. Highway 112 is currently a two-lane highway that traverses through or near several environmentally sensitive areas, including the Cave Springs Recharge Area. Due to the rapid growth in the Northwest Arkansas region, concerns have been raised by local officials that existing Highway 112 may not adequately handle increased traffic volumes. The planned improvements are expected to meet the transportation needs at this location for the next 20 years.
Project Name: Benton County Water Systems Improvements
Request Amount: $1,750,000
Intended Recipient: Benton County Water District # 1 PWA of Arkansas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 111 E Rose St. Rogers, AR 72756
Explanation of the request: The Benton County Water Systems Improvements project will upgrade the current water system to a loop system and provide newer, larger pipes that can keep up with the water demand of the growing area. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these water lines are severely delipidated as they are over 40 years old. Additionally, it will provide rate payer relief to current and future customers of the region.
Project Name: Berryville Hospital MRI
Request Amount: $1,376,692
Intended Recipient: Mercy Berryville Hospital
Address of the Intended Recipient: 214 Carter St., Berryville, Arkansas 72616
Explanation of the request: The funding will help establish an MRI unit at Mercy Berryville Hospital in Berryville, Arkansas. Mercy Berryville Hospital currently does not have an MRI unit and patients needing MRI services are transferred or must travel to larger out-of-town hospitals to receive the service. With an MRI unit permanently available at Mercy Berryville Hospital, loved-ones, family, friends, and neighbors will have increased opportunity to assist patients that may need transportation to receive MRI services. Mercy Berryville Hospital is also a part of the first ever Rural Training Program (RTP) in the state of Arkansas. The initial RTP Family Practice Residents will arrive at Mercy Berryville Hospital in July 2024. Given that MRI is now considered a regular diagnostic tool at a physician’s disposal, an MRI will also improve the training and learning experience for the physician residents while at the same time enhancing services for patients in Berryville and the surrounding rural region. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will provide increased health access and services to residents of Berryville, Carroll County, and the surrounding area.
Project Name: Construction of Future Interstate 49
Request Amount: $5,000,000
Intended Recipient: Arkansas Department of Transportation
Address of the Intended Recipient: 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Explanation of the request: Interstate 49 is a congressionally designated High Priority Corridor running from Shreveport, Louisiana to Kansas City, Missouri. Interstate 49 is one of several corridors identified as nationally important by the U.S. Congress in the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Constructing this segment of Interstate 49 is intended to complement the existing Interstate system, integrate regions of the country, improve safety and efficiency of travel and commerce, and promote economic development. As Fort Smith is the third largest city in Arkansas, the completion of this project would provide much needed congestion relief for the cities of Fort Smith and Van Buren. It will also move toward completing the nation’s mid-south transcontinental corridor, linking the Gulf Coast with the central United States and Canada in support of international and domestic commerce, as well as tourism.
Project Name: Ebbing ANG Academic Training Center
Request Amount: $74,000,000
Intended Recipient: Ebbing Air National Guard Base
Address of the Intended Recipient: 4850 Leigh Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used to construct an F-35 Academic Training Center and Liquid Oxygen Supply Storage facility for the Foreign Military Sales F-35 program’s Pilot Training Center. The facility will provide spaces for training classrooms, flight simulator spaces, conference rooms, and administrative support spaces for the F-35 FMS Pilot Training Center mission. A flight simulator training facility is required to support the beddown of F-35s at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. The mission requires four simulator bays capable of supporting up to three simultaneous countries training. The liquid oxygen storage building is required to support the training mission.
Project Name: Elkins Water System Improvements
Request Amount: $3,750,000
Intended Recipient: City of Elkins
Address of the Intended Recipient: 1874 Stokenbury Road Elkins, Arkansas 72727
Explanation of the request: The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because without the funding, the City of Elkins will not be able to continue to grow or support any further infrastructure projects that could be coming to our area. The City of Elkins is one of the fastest growing small towns in Washington County and they must be able to keep up with the growth they are experiencing.
Project Name: Farmington Bridge Repairs
Request Amount: $6,500,000
Intended Recipient: City of Farmington
Address of the Intended Recipient: 354 W. Main Farmington, Arkansas 72730
Explanation of the request: The project can be described as the replacement of two functionally obsolete bridges that are located on Double Springs Road located in Farmington, Arkansas. These bridges are currently weight limited and significant local funds are being spent on a regular basis to maintain the bridges. The new replacement bridges are planned to be similar to the existing bridge lengths but will be wider to meet current standards and will contain provisions for a multi-use trail.
Project Name: Huntsville Water System Improvements
Request Amount: $3,000,000
Intended Recipient: City of Huntsville
Address of the Intended Recipient: 208 E War Eagle Avenue Huntsville, Arkansas 72740
Explanation of the request: The purpose of the project is to provide upgrades to the Huntsville water system, including building a water tower and upgrading the sewer lines and plant. It is a valuable use of taxpayer funds as it will provide water to the town's residents and ensure the fire department has an adequate supply of water to suppress fires.
Project Name: Mulberry Food Pantry
Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: City of Mulberry
Address of the Intended Recipient: 207 N. Main St. Mulberry, Arkansas 72947
Explanation of the request: This project would provide funds to the City of Mulberry to update the City's Community Food Pantry to comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. It would enable the city to make the essential modifications while also providing funds to purchase a refrigerated vehicle for the Food Pantry to make deliveries to residents of the city that rely on the pantry for their food supply.
Project Name: NEBCO Fire Station Improvements
Request Amount: $1,250,000
Intended Recipient: Benton County Arkansas
Address of the Intended Recipient: 215 E. Central Ave. Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
Explanation of the request: This project would provide funding for facility construction and upgrades, including structure material, heating and air, a new water line and additional equipment, including a fire truck. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will support the safety of the citizens of Northeast Benton County by increasing the capability of the NEBCO Volunteer Fire Department. NEBCO services 3,715 households across an 84 square mile service area, including 81 miles of Beaver Lake’s shoreline. NEBCO also provides mutual support to surrounding fire departments. In 2023, NEBCO responded to 1,003 calls across its fire and EMS service.
Project Name: North Central Crawford County Water Systems Improvements
Request Amount: $2,440,000
Intended Recipient: City of Mountainburg
Address of the Intended Recipient: 101 Highway 71 North Mountainburg, Arkansas 72946
Explanation of the request: This project would provide funds for a water system extension to serve approximately 350 users in North Central Crawford County who currently do not have access to a potable water supply as they currently rely on private wells, which are inadequate in quality, quantity, or both. Those that do not have access to private wells rely on hauling water from the nearest town to obtain potable water.
Project Name: Pea Ridge Fire Station
Request Amount: $2,750,000
Intended Recipient: City of Pea Ridge
Address of the Intended Recipient: 975 Weston St., Pea Ridge, Arkansas 72751
Explanation of the request: The funding would be used to construct a new fire station for the Pea Ridge Fire Department. The new fire station would provide the growing City of Pea Ridge increased fire and EMS capacity and capability to protect its citizens and provide support to surrounding jurisdictions. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will enhance the safety of Pea Ridge residents and businesses.
Project Name: Springdale Northern Bypass
Request Amount: $59,000,000
Intended Recipient: Arkansas Department of Transportation
Address of the Intended Recipient: 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Explanation of the request: The Springdale Northern Bypass has been developed to reduce congestion and delays and increase reliability and safety in response to the existing and forecasted vehicular traffic on Highway 412. Congestion on Highway 412 affects the economic competitiveness of the project area, the region, and the State of Arkansas. The Springdale Northern Bypass will be a four-lane, divided highway with fully controlled access built to interstate standards. It will provide an additional east-west route for freight and motorists and will relieve congestion through Springdale.
Project Name: Springdale Water System Improvements
Request Amount: $8,025,000
Intended Recipient: Springdale Water Utilities
Address of the Intended Recipient: 526 Oak Avenue Springdale, Arkansas 72764
Explanation of the request: The Springdale Water Systems Improvements project would expand sewer infrastructure over very difficult and challenging terrain to the eastern border identified for Springdale’s next economic growth. This land is very desirable in terms of community development, economic potential and a very healthy tax base. Currently, minimal infrastructure is in place to serve primarily a rural and sparsely populated area that would be significantly enhanced by sewer infrastructure and Springdale boundary growth to serve the anticipated community growth, both private and public. The historic challenge developing this region has always been elevated terrain and associated cost to pump over the terrain. To date, Springdale has committed itself to several priority projects in our service area totaling $125,000,000 or more, but given the fiscal environment and heightened cost of construction services, we are limited to prioritize mandatory projects over future community growth choices. his project is required to further support the tremendous regional growth, while best serving Springdale to bring additional housing, new jobs, increased consumer spending and expand the tax base at a very high and healthy level. The investment would continue to go way beyond the initial numbers for many years to come.
Project Name: Townson Avenue Improvements
Request Amount: $12,500,000
Intended Recipient: Arkansas Department of Transportation
Address of the Intended Recipient: 10324 Interstate 30 Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
Explanation of the request: Highway 71B (Towson Ave.) between Highway 64 and Highway 271 in Fort Smith currently has four, eleven-foot travel lanes with left-turn lanes present at some major intersections. While pedestrians are present throughout the corridor, sidewalks are discontinuous and in need of repair in various locations. Access management has not been implemented, resulting in frequent driveways and numerous conflict points for both automobiles and pedestrians. Some signalized intersections lack pedestrian accommodations. Additionally, storm sewers along the corridor are inadequate to convey heavy rainfall, resulting in periodic flash flooding that impacts the highway and surrounding properties. The Department is seeking additional funding to allocate toward the improvement of Highway 71B by enhancing pedestrian accommodations and improving drainage.
U.S. Congressman
Steve Womack
Serving the Third District of Arkansas