Little Rock Public Radio has received a $33,083 grant from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust to fund infrastructure and technology upgrades at its KUAR and KLRE stations.
The grant will fund a series of strategic upgrades that include improvements to remote broadcasting equipment, newsroom recording capabilities and transmitter infrastructure for KLRE Classical FM 90.5.
Jonathan Seaborn, Little Rock Public Radio general manager, said in a press release that the grant will fill important technology gaps that emerged during the station’s recent growth and development, including the station’s relocation to a new studio space.
“For the past two years, we’ve expanded our on-location reporting, including live broadcasts like ‘Coffee with KUAR’ and ‘All Things Considered,’ but we’ve been piecing together technology to make it happen,” Seaborn said in the release. “This grant allows us to significantly improve our field recording capabilities and equip our newsroom with the tools needed to produce high-quality audio, whether it’s in the studio or on the go.”
The improvements include installing audio processors, microphones and sound-dampening equipment in individual offices. It also supports critical upgrades to the KLRE transmitter site, ensuring the longevity and performance of new broadcast equipment.
This is the latest in a series of grants from the Sturgis Trust, which has supported Little Rock Public Radio since 1997. The trust has funded major improvements, including a nearly $50,000 grant in 2024 for studio upgrades.
“We appreciate the work of Little Rock Public Radio in bringing quality programming and credible news reporting to Arkansas,” Lisa Speer, trustee and administrator of the trust, said in the press release.
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