Rural Community Grant
Rural Community Grant supports rural Arkansas communities by funding community facilities, recreation amenities, and fire-protection projects that improve local quality of life.
Funder: Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Due Dates: August 13, 2026 (FY 2027 Cycle I) | March 11, 2027 (FY 2027 Cycle II)
Funding Amounts: Up to $15,000 with a 50/50 local match; 12-month project period
Summary: Matching grants support rural Arkansas community facilities, recreation amenities, and fire-protection facilities, vehicles, and equipment.
Key Information: Communities must have fewer than 3,000 residents and cannot have an open Rural Community Grant.
Description
The Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program is administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission. It provides matching grants to improve quality of life in rural Arkansas through community facilities, recreation, and local fire protection, including related emergency services and construction.
Eligible work includes construction, renovations, and additions to publicly owned community centers, senior or youth centers, libraries, museums, parks, and recreational facilities. The program also supports storm sirens, publicly owned storm shelters accessible to the entire community, fire facilities, fire-protection equipment and vehicles, and rehabilitation or retrofitting of newly acquired equipment and vehicles. Past awards have supported walking tracks, playground equipment, pavilions, library shelving, fire stations, turnout gear, communications equipment, and fire trucks.
