Community Project Funding FY27
The Community Project Funding requests made by Congressman Westerman for Fiscal Year 2027 are listed below:
Project: Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Digital Forensics Enhancement for the Arkansas State Police in Little Rock, AR
Requested Federal Funding Amount: $4,000,000.00
Additional Information and Request Justification:
This funding will modernize Arkansas’s ICAC digital forensic infrastructure, expand mobile investigative capability, and increase statewide capacity to process and act on rapidly growing volumes of child-exploitation evidence. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it equips law enforcement with essential forensic tools and mobile capabilities needed to manage surging child-exploitation cases, reduce backlogs, strengthen prosecutions, and protect vulnerable children across Arkansas.
The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described section 1701(b)(9) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10381(b)(9)).
Project: Whittington Creek Detention Basin Project in Hot Springs, AR
Requested Federal Funding Amount: $2,299,700.00
Additional Information and Request Justification:
The Whittington Creek Detention Basin Project is designed to address severe flooding in the historic downtown area of Hot Springs, particularly along Central Avenue, which has experienced historic inundation due to high-intensity rain events. The project proposes the construction of a strategically located detention basin north and west of downtown, following the alignment of Whittington Creek and positioned near the inlet of the Central Avenue tunnel. This basin will provide an estimated 10–15 acre-feet of storage capacity, slowing and reducing stormwater flows before entering the City’s downtown conveyance system.
The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the proactive mitigation through this project will significantly reduce the likelihood and cost of future federally supported disaster responses along the Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District.
The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by section 203 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), as amended by Section 1234, National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation, of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018.
Project: Future Interstate 49 Project Development in Little Rock, AR
Requested Federal Funding Amount: $20,000,000.00
Additional Information and Request Justification:
ARDOT is seeking additional funding to allocate towards project development of a new, four-lane divided, Future Interstate 49, from South of Barling in Sebastian County to “Y” City in Scott County. This work will include interchanges and numerous overpasses and main lane bridge structures. This project will fill over 40 miles of the 154-mile gap of the Interstate 49 Corridor in Arkansas. When the 154-mile gap of Interstate 49 is complete, Interstate 49 will link the Gulf Coast with the central United States and Canada in support of international and domestic commerce, as well as tourism.
The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because when completed, Interstate 49 will integrate regions of the country, improve safety and efficiency of travel and commerce, and promote economic development across the country.
The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 23 USC 133.
Project: Jefferson County Port Authority Port of Pine Bluff Project
Requested Federal Funding Amount: $9,791,910.00
Additional Information and Request Justification:
The Port of Pine Bluff is seeking funding to replace or demolish dangerous and deteriorating infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life. This project focuses on the most urgent needs to ensure continued operations and expand use of the port and its transload facilities, which support both interstate and global commerce.
This investment is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Port of Pine Bluff is a critical economic engine for the region and a vital link in national and international supply chains. The port supports industries that produce concrete, horticultural products, tire cord, hoses, pet food, and agricultural inputs, while also facilitating exports such as wood pellets to the United Kingdom and Japan. Its intermodal connections to the inland waterway system, the federal highway network, and Class I railroads enable businesses to move goods efficiently across the United States and around the world. Without these infrastructure improvements, the port risks losing capacity, competitiveness, and the ability to support the jobs and economic activity that depend on it.
The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 46 USC 54301.