Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has allocated $250,000 from her office for expenses to complete the Veterans Village in Jonesboro.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver announced that he had received the donation from Rutledge on Friday, Jan. 8. According to a city news release, the donation will help complete the $1.35 million project.
“I’m proud to have allocated $250,000 from my Office to ensure Arkansas veterans have a place to lay their heads,” Rutledge said in a statement. “Our veterans and service members have given much for our nation so that we may be the land of the free, and we must ensure our brave have a place to call home.”
The Veterans Village is a neighborhood in Jonesboro at the corner of North Patrick Street and Aggie Road that provides housing and resources for homeless veterans. There is a block of nine houses in the neighborhood.
According to Jonesboro grants and community development director Regina Burkett, the project has been funded through grants, donation and public-private partnerships. However, the project reportedly faced a shortfall as a result of rising prices.
“During my campaign, I was made aware that the special circumstances of 2020 caused a rise in pricing leaving Veterans Village around a quarter-million dollars from completion,” Copenhaver said. “Within minutes, I opened dialogue with Attorney General Rutledge, and the result of that conversation was a very generous commitment by her.”
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