How we did it

To learn more about individual legislators' General Improvement Fund grants, including those at the center of a federal investigation, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette submitted records requests under the state Freedom of Information Act to eight Arkansas Planning and Development Districts.

The newspaper sought records since 2013, when two Northwest Arkansas legislators started supporting grants to Ecclesia College and Decision Point Inc.

The newspaper collected more than 4,200 records of General Improvement Fund grants statewide.

The Democrat-Gazette also requested all related records connected with General Improvement Fund grants to Ecclesia and Decision Point, including grant applications, checks and emails.

Reporters Lisa Hammersly, Bill Bowden and John Moritz interviewed 19 legislators in connection with the grants, along with staff members at the planning districts that administer them, state finance and budget experts, and General Improvement Fund grant critics and supporters.


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