The Rural Community Grant Program can assist with the improvement of local fire protection, including related emergency services and construction, along with the development and improvement of community facilities. Projects eligible for funding consideration under the Rural Community Grant Program include, but are not limited to:
2019 grant recipients under this program can be seen at https://www.arkansasedc.com/Rural-Services/division/grants/grant-recipients.
Projects not eligible for funding consideration under the Rural Community Grant Program include, but are not limited to:
Due to the limited amount of funds available for rural communities, the Arkansas Rural Development Commission has elected to make the following entities and projects ineligible for grant funding: county health units, schools/preschools, transfer stations, water projects, elections, and private, non-profit associations.
Incorporated cities and towns and unincorporated communities in rural areas of less than 3,000 in population (verifiable by current U.S. Census information) are eligible to apply for assistance through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program. For this program, a rural area is defined as all the territory of the State of Arkansas that is not within the outer boundary of any city or town having a population of 20,000 or more according to the latest federal census or within such a city's or town's neighboring urbanized areas.”
Proposals for FY2021 will be accepted in two application cycles. The first cycle ends August 6, 2020. The second cycle ends March 11, 2021. Similar deadlines are anticipated annually.
Up to $600,000 is available in FY 2021. Individual awards may be up to $15,000. Cost sharing/matching of 50% the total project cost is required. The local match does not have to be entirely in cash. In-kind donations of project equipment, labor, land, and materials will be accepted.