Independence County is moving ahead with a major renovation to house two U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies.
County Judge Kevin Jeffery said the county will begin work on its Myers Street property, just west of the community garden, to accommodate the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Olympus Construction of Jonesboro has been awarded the contract, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2026. The project has an estimated cost of approximately $800,000, which was budgeted for last year.
Jeffery confirmed the federal government has agreed to a revised reimbursement plan. Instead of payments spread over five years, the county will now receive a one-time lump sum of $650,000 upon the agencies’ occupancy of the building.
“I expect this to be a long-term lease arrangement that is mutually beneficial to both Independence County and the federal government,” Jeffery said.
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