Community College Gets $1 Million to Teach Rural Anti-Terrorism

Sept. 24, 2004
Northwest Arkansas Community College has received nearly $1 million from the federal government to start a rural homeland security training program

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Northwest Arkansas Community College has received nearly $1 million from the federal government to start a rural homeland security training program.

Becky Paneitz, the college's president, said the $983,669 grant is to help establish a pilot program to provide anti-terrorism training designed specifically for rural areas.

Northwest Arkansas' three largest companies, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and J.B. Hunt Trucking Co., joined with the college and emergency responders to administer the program.

Bryan Renfro, the coordinator of NWACC's criminal justice program, said the school showed initiative in proposing the program and it could bring some national attention.