Improvements in parks and walking trails, a stoplight, a new bridge, expensive firefighting equipment, computers and vehicles for the Greenwood Police Department and a new look for downtown in the Square and the courthouse grounds-they are all needed and expensive items. The city’s money only goes so far. So how is Greenwood getting all this paid for? “Grants and state/federal funding”, replied Mayor Kenneth Edwards. “I vowed to go after money to pay for the things we need and want and couldn’t budget for”, the Mayor promised when taking office in 2007. To date, the Mayor and his staff have successfully pursued well over $2.5 million dollars in outside financial aide for Greenwood. “I heard him say that he was setting a goal of two million for his first term and I was skeptical, but his legal background and familiarity with the how state government works has sure paid off” says City Councilman Tim Terry. “It is unprecedented for a town to get this much grant money in so brief a period of time. The legislative delegation, the State government and the Mayor’s office are working in perfect harmony and money is coming to Greenwood to enable some of make plans to become a reality.” said Senator Ed Wilkinson.
First was a matching grant for the Promenade in Bell Park. That was $125,000.00 from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The city matched the grant with money from the ¾ cent sales tax passed in 2006. The last two legislative sessions have seen grants totaling $280,000.00 for the community center in Bell Park. Bids will soon be accepted for work on that project. Edwards and Parks Director Doug Kinslow expect another $140,000.00 or so for the project soon from the Arkansas Department of Rural Services. Cinda Bell has prepared the grant applications for the Greenwood Parks Committee. The latest success is $140,000.00 for the Veteran’s Memorial in the Town Square. Edwards enlisted the help of Rusty Myers and County Judge David Hudson in seeking $280,000.00 for the Greenwood Courthouse. The first half of this money has already been awarded. “Judge Hudson was very gracious in allowing us to pursue money for the grounds of the Courthouse. Greenwood owes him and the Quorum Court our thanks”, said Edwards. Parks Director Doug Kinslow grins and says, “It’s interesting to watch the Mayor work the State Capitol Building with our legislators-Senator Wilkinson and Representative Breedlove”. Kinslow added, “We went to Little Rock and came back with a matching grant of $125,000.00 for the Promenade and $67,000.00 for the walking trails. It makes thing happen and we are going after much more”.
Equally impressive are the numbers in the area of street and traffic improvements. The signal light at Highway 71 and Denver Street totaled $585,000.00. The city’s share was a mere $32,000.00. The Denver Street bridge is being replaced with state funding that totaling nearly $900,000.00. The city is out less than $200,000.00 for the replacement in the 80/20 match.
“Mayor Edwards spends time at the capitol during the legislative session tracking where the money is going and then is in Little Rock and conferences around the state applying for those funds when they are made available. He has helped me write appropriations bills that have resulted in money coming to Greenwood”, said Senator Ed Wilkinson. Wilkinson and State Representative Steve Breedlove have directed funds to projects recently like the Veteran’s Memorial Square.
Police Chief Keith Jackson and Fire Chief Stewart Bryan have been seeking these types of funding for their respective departments. Jackson has been awarded over $300,000.00 for vehicles, training, overtime pay and computers for police cars. This year saw the Fire Department awarded $100,000.00 for breathing apparatus equipment for firefighters and an $11,000.00 all terrain vehicle for rescue on the walking trails and in our parks.
Street Department Director Don Keyes estimates that assistance received from the County Road Department for work on creek cleanouts to prevent flooding totals over $200,000.00. “It’s working too. We have gotten rain amounts that would have resulted in flooding before and now no flooding is being experienced” Keyes said of the otherwise cost prohibitive cleanout operation. “$50,000.00 in FEMA money allows us to replace undersize drainage tiles”, Keyes added.
“A strong legislative delegation is essential. We have the best. Also, a mayor has to go where the money is. This is not something that can be done on the telephone. I appreciate a majority of the city council in allowing me to after these funds. You have to meet these people, travel to their conferences and explain why our needs are more important than those of other towns. A mayor doesn’t get that done by sitting in an office all day. We will never be able to thank Senator Ed Wilkinson for his help” Edwards concluded.