Arkansas agency seeks grant to expand veterans cemetery

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs is in the preliminary stages of obtaining a federal grant to expand a North Little Rock veterans cemetery following an uptick in burials.

An evaluation determined the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, which expanded last year, would run out of certain types of graves in four years, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Oversize, in-ground graves would run out by 2020, and there would be no columbarium space for cremated veterans by 2021. More additions weren't expected until 2019.

Bill Wussick, assistant director of cemeteries for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, said department officials hope the grant can fund several infrastructure improvements, including an expanded roadway and an addition to the administration building.

"We are experiencing an increase of interments but have not done an analysis to determine the cause," Wussick said. "However, I would not rule that out."

The department of veteran affairs said in its request that it needs $750,000 to pay design fees and $20,000 for startup costs, such as an environmental assessment.

"The state needed to show a commitment very soon to provide matching funds in order to receive federal funds," said Duncan Baird, state budget administrator. "That's why we wanted to act quickly on this."

Wussick said any state funds spent at the beginning of the project will eventually be reimbursed.