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Subcommittee approves ARPA grants for UAM nursing program and public health lab as members press university on sustainability
Summary
The committee approved ARPA spending authority for a University of Arkansas Monticello nursing program startup and a Department of Health lab supplement; members pressed UAM on how the program will be sustained after one‑time federal funds end.
A legislative appropriations review subcommittee approved two American Rescue Plan Act spending requests: a $600,000 aligned grant to the University of Arkansas at Monticello to launch an LPN-related workforce program and a nearly $1 million supplemental CDC grant to the Department of Health to support ongoing lab operations at the Advanced Molecular Detection Sequencing Laboratory.
Representative questions focused on sustainability of the UAM program after the ARPA startup funding expires. Thomas Lafever, director of budget, University of Arkansas Monticello, told the committee the program will begin July 1 with six students at one campus and will start in College of Technology locations in Crossett, Sebec and Warren, with plans to expand. Lafever said he did not have a detailed post‑grant sustainability plan available during the hearing.
Jim Hudson, secretary, Department of Finance and Administration, described the aligned grants as one‑time startup funds from a $25 million state award distributed through the Office of Skills Development. Hudson said the ARPA funding is intended to cover startup costs such as classroom equipment and initial salaries; after the ARPA award ends (the ARPA agreement runs through Sept. 30, 2026), institutions are expected to operate programs through normal tuition and fee revenue rather than ongoing state ARPA dollars.
During questioning Senator Hickey pressed whether salary costs included in the award — specifically about $385,000 listed for salaries in the university submission — have a long‑term funding plan. UAM representatives indicated tuition and fees would be relied upon to support ongoing salaries and that program continuation depends on enrollment growth; UAM officials said they are engaging with local high schools to build future student pipelines. Lafever confirmed capital outlay of $178,000 will fund classroom setup — computers, smart boards and related equipment.
Don Adams, chief of staff, Department of Health, explained the supplemental ELC (epidemiology and laboratory capacity) grant augments existing lab operations. Adams said the lab preexisted the supplemental award and that once the supplemental funding ends the department will move expenses back to the ELC core grant; the department does not plan to seek additional state general revenue to continue these lab activities.
Members voted to approve both C‑1 and C‑2 by voice vote after discussion.
