HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas group will receive a three-year, $223,000 grant to expand the economic impact of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

The Delta Bridge Project announced this week that the Sonny Boy Blues Society will get the money to support the King Biscuit Blues Festival, which this year begins Thursday and runs through Saturday in Helena.

Officials say besides the fall show, the grant will support
expanded blues education for children and the creation of a spring series of concerts in downtown Helena starting in 2012.

The King Biscuit Blues Festival is Helena's largest tourism
event, drawing more than 50,000 people annually.

This year, Grammy winners Buddy Guy, Keb' Mo' and Delbert
McClinton are featured performers.

The grant is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and
Southern Bancorp Capital Partners.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)