Sturgis Trust Awards $33K Grant to Little Rock Public Radio for Technology and Infrastructure Upgrades

Little Rock Public Radio has received a $33,083 grant from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust to fund critical infrastructure and technology upgrades at its KUAR and KLRE stations.

This latest gift continues the Sturgis Trust’s longstanding support of Little Rock Public Radio’s mission to provide reliable news, cultural programming, and public service to Arkansans. 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.

“We appreciate the work of Little Rock Public Radio in bringing quality programming and credible news reporting to Arkansas,” said Lisa Speer, trustee and administrator of the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust.

The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust was established in 1981 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming for all people.

Little Rock Public Radio General Manager Jonathan Seaborn said 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. “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, enabling reporters to quickly record newscasts when studio space is limited. It also supports critical upgrades to the KLRE transmitter site, ensuring the longevity and performance of new broadcast equipment.

“As we expand our news coverage and invest in our team, it’s important that the sound quality reflects the same high standards as our journalism,” Seaborn said. “We’re also committed to protecting our larger investments in transmitter and studio upgrades by ensuring they’re installed in a structurally sound environment that will last well into the future.”

This is the latest in a series of grants from the Sturgis Trust, which has supported Little Rock Public Radio since 1997. The trust’s generosity has funded major improvements, including a nearly $50,000 grant in 2024 for studio upgrades.

“Little Rock Public Radio continues to be a cornerstone of public media in Arkansas,” Seaborn added. “Thanks to the continued generosity of the Sturgis Trust, we can equip our journalists with the tools they need to serve our community with excellence.”

Little Rock Public Radio is a listener-supported public service department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. It operates KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical FM 90.5, reaching more than 80,000 listeners weekly through broadcasts, streaming, and digital content. As the only source of classical music on the airwaves in central Arkansas, and home to NPR and locally produced programming, the stations continue to serve as vital sources of news and culture for Arkansans.