Money we could go get

Grants and low-cost loans can pay for things a budget can’t. This page lists real programs, what each pays for, who can apply, and when — read from each agency’s own page. Programs open, close, and change; always confirm at the link before applying. Dates and terms were read on September 30, 2026.

Deadlines coming up — soonest first

Community Development Block Grant — General Assistance due October 16, 2026 · 4 days left

Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Pays for	Community needs: water and sewer, public facilities, and urgent needs.
Who	Cities and counties (except the largest cities). A grant administrator is required.
How much	$75,000 to $500,000; up to $1 million for water or sewer work that adds customers.
Local share	Varies

Due by 4:30 p.m.

Pays for	Community centers, fire stations, and fire trucks.
Who	Towns and rural communities under 3,000 people where most households are low-to-moderate income.
How much	Up to $100,000.
Local share	10% — labor and materials can count

Pays for	Getting industrial sites ready.
Who	Cities, counties, and economic development groups that filed an intent to apply by Sept 30, 2026.
How much	Set per project.
Local share	5% or more

Pays for	Starting or improving a drug or treatment court.
Who	Counties, cities, states, tribes.
How much	Up to $950,000 to start one; up to $1,025,750 to improve one.
Local share	25%

Pays for	Restoring historic county courthouses.
Who	Counties with a historic courthouse. Letters of intent are open; applications open Nov 16, 2026.
How much	Set per project.
Local share	Varies

Pays for	Recovery, treatment, and prevention projects.
Who	Counties and cities; each project goes before the county judge and mayors.
How much	Set per project.
Local share	None listed

Pays for	Replacing or repairing local bridges.
Who	Counties and cities, by written request.
How much	Set per bridge.
Local share	10%

Pays for	State revolving fund loans (some principal forgiven) and other water programs.
Who	Public water and sewer systems.
How much	Set per project.
Local share	Loan

Pays for	Public buildings and equipment. Its list includes police stations, prisons, fire departments and fire trucks — and community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, and greenhouses.
Who	Counties, cities, nonprofits, and tribes, for places of 20,000 people or fewer.
How much	Loans up to 40 years; grants of 15% to 75% of the cost, depending on the community’s size and income.
Local share	Depends on the grant share

Pays for	Treatment and recovery, including treatment inside jails and at release.
Who	Counties, cities, states, tribes; rural counties have their own category.
How much	Up to $1,000,000 over three years for a rural local government.
Local share	None

Pays for	Low-interest loans for water and sewer projects; part of some loans is forgiven. Includes separate money for lead pipes and for “forever chemicals” (PFAS).
Who	Public water and sewer systems.
How much	Set by the state.
Local share	Loan

Pays for	Drinking water, sewer, solid waste, and storm drainage.
Who	Rural areas and towns of 10,000 people or fewer.
How much	Long-term, low-interest loans; grants when funds allow.
Local share	Loan

Pays for	Large water and sewer projects.
Who	Public systems; small communities (25,000 or fewer) get easier terms.
How much	Small-community projects of $5 million or more; up to 80% of the cost.
Local share	Loan

Pays for	Road, bridge, and other surface transportation projects, and planning.
Who	Counties, cities, tribes.
How much	Rural projects from $1 million to $25 million.
Local share	Rural projects can be paid up to 100% by the federal share

Pays for	Road-safety action plans and safety projects.
Who	Counties, cities, tribes.
How much	Planning grants of $100,000 to $5 million.
Local share	20%

Pays for	Equipment, protective gear, training, and vehicles — paid straight to fire departments, including volunteer departments.
Who	Fire departments and EMS organizations.
How much	Up to $1 million for departments serving 100,000 people or fewer.
Local share	5% for places of 20,000 or fewer

Pays for	Pays a nonprofit to guide groups of families who build each other’s homes; the families do most of the labor.
Who	Nonprofits and public bodies.
How much	Set case by case.
Local share	None listed

Pays for	Low-interest home loans for low-income rural families; repair loans to $40,000 at 1%, and repair grants to $10,000 for very-low-income owners 62 and older.
Who	Families apply directly.
How much	See the program page.
Local share	None

Pays for	Infrastructure that supports jobs.
Who	Counties, cities, nonprofits, and others.
How much	$100,000 to $30 million.
Local share	Required

Deadlines coming up — soonest first

Montgomery County — not matched yet

Arkansas programs

Federal programs — by what they pay for

Jails, public safety, and recovery

Water and sewer

Roads and bridges

Fire and emergency

Housing

Jobs and growth

How applying works