Little Rock, Arkansas — The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing – Arkansas Appraiser and Licensing Certification Board (AALCB) was awarded a $189,650 grant.

The grant was awarded from the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council. The grant will be used for technology and administrative upgrades, and travel and education for board members, staff, and contract investigator. This would be the second installment of the grant.

“The AALCB is greatly appreciative for the grant that the board has received from the FFIEC Appraisal Subcommittee.” said Josh Barkhimer, AALCB Chairman.

The grant will allow the AALCB to continue to make IT upgrades such as to their education database and online payment system and allows for real-time updates to the Appraiser National Registry. Additionally, the grant funds will enable the AALCB to purchase new equipment such as scanners, computers and recorders that are needed to digitize and better archive records. 

Barkhimer further added, “What does this mean to Arkansas appraisers and the citizens of Arkansas? It means that the AALCB has increased resources to better serve the people of Arkansas.”

The Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board was created in 1991 which requires that Arkansas qualify, test, and issue licenses to appraisers in order that the public be protected, and the State follow all federally related transactions requiring appraisals performed by state-licensed and/or certified appraisers. Arkansas has over 1,000 real estate appraisers.