Are they still handing out cash?

The federal stimulus gravy train has caused a bit of a feeding-frenzy across the United States. The government, in an attempt to shore up the economy and get more cash into the loop, has been printing the stuff night and day and pumping it into various parts of the country. The result is mixed, with much of the funding going toward efforts that will provide jobs for individuals and sales for businesses. But as with any government program, there is plenty of pork to go around to those owed a favor.

Thursday at 4:30 p.m., the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program will conduct a public hearing in the Clay County Courthouse at Piggott. The meeting is being held, according to the news release, "for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing the community needs of Clay County, determining whether an application for funds should be developed, and, if so, for what community need."

The release went on to say that comments on proposed project activities will be discussed, especially those with possible impacts on the community, should the project receive funding."

The money is federal funds and is to be made available to cities and counties in accordance with need --and can be used for housing rehabilitation, community facilities or economic development but must address certain objectives.

We're not very good with government legal-speak, but it is apparent that the feds still want to pump money into the economy. And it seems the only ones that will be left-out are the ones that don't ask. With that in mind we encourage everyone able to attend the public hearing Thursday afternoon.

If you have any ideas on helping the local economy, no matter how off the wall they may seem, attend the meeting and let your voice be heard. The state Economic Development Commission, which has been charged with administering the funding, needs to hear that the people of Piggott want our share and will put it to good use.

The criteria for the money is that the funding must address: providing benefit to low and moderate income families; aid in the prevention of slum and blight, or meet other community needs which pose a serious, immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where no other funding is available to meet such needs.

That's a broad spectrum, and we're sure there are dozens of ideas out there that qualify. And like the saying goes, they can't say yes if you don't ask.

Too often local residents stand by and wonder why someone doesn't do something about the local economy, and this is the perfect chance for those voices and others to be heard. Even if you don't have an idea, please come to the meeting as a show of support. Government officials always pay attention when constituents turnout en masse -- it's the few that are seldom heard.

We feel that anytime a government agency holds a public hearing in Piggott for the express purpose of trying to give us money, we should show them we' re interested. The same would go for an empty meeting room, which would send those officials back to Little Rock thinking we don't need or want what they have to offer.