FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 21, 2002)
CONTACT: Josh Earnest (870-972-4600)

JONESBORO, AR -- United States Representative Marion Berry (D-AR) today announced the town of Knobel will receive $150,000 in federal funding, including more than $66,000 in the form of a grant for a back-logged water project. The remainder of the funds will be made available in low-interest loans. The funding will be used to rehabilitate Knobel's water storage tank, including sandblasting and repainting.

"I'm pleased that the city of Knobel has finally been awarded these long overdue funds that will protect the health of local residents and improve the quality of life in that community," Berry said.

The project in Knobel is one of 12 water and wastewater projects in Arkansas' First Congressional District, represented by Rep. Berry, that recently received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Fund. The 12 projects combined yielded more than $10.3 million in federal money, including more than $6 million in grants, all of which was appropriated by the 2002 Farm Bill.

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Berry was active in shaping the version of the farm bill that passed the House last fall. Through the farm bill debate, Berry was an advocate for Arkansas farmers during the conference committee process, meeting regularly with House conferees and leading the floor debate on the provisions to include in the final version of the bill.