The Arkansas governor's office announced the state is awarding $11.5 million in federal grant money for infrastructure projects in rural parts of the state.

Communities such as Norfork, Whelen Springs, Salem, Nashville and Oxford will receive around $500,000 each to improve their wastewater facilities. Mansfield will use the funding for sidewalk and crosswalk construction, while Franklin County plans to utilize the funds to renovate a disabled adults learning center.

The awards are a part of the Community Development Block Grant programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aimed at funding infrastructure programs that reduce blight in small cities and towns.

The $11.5 million the state announced it had allocated Thursday is part of the $17.48 million the state is e

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