Non-profit trade association to provide technical assistance and training for Arkansas's public transit systems. ARKANSAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION, INC. (ATA) (THE ASSOCIATION) IS A NON-PROFIT TAX-EXEMPT ARKANSAS CORPORATION ESTABLISHED IN MAY 1980 TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN RURAL AND SMALL URBAN AREAS, USING URBANIZED AND NON-URBANIZED TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN ARKANSAS. BASIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND DUPLICATION OF TRAINING MATERIALS AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR TRANSIT OPERATORS. ATA RECEIVES THE MAJORITY OF FUNDING FOR ITS OPERATIONS FROM FEDERAL GRANTS UNDER CHAPTER 53, TITLE 49, IN THE UNITED STATES CODE ENACTED BY PUBLIC LAW 105-178 IN JUNE 1998. ADDITIONAL OPERATING FUNDS ARE RECEIVED FROM AN ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE GRANT.