Now Open: Arkansas Small Cities and Counties Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Arkansas Energy Office (AEO) has begun accepting applications for the Arkansas Small Cities and Counties Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.
This competitive grant will be used to extend the capacity and capabilities of state and local governments to implement high-impact energy projects. Local governments (cities and counties) within the State of Arkansas that are not eligible for direct funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) will be given priority in the evaluation process. Cities and counties that received direct funding from DOE are still eligible to apply but will be deferred for consideration until all applications from non-funded cities and counties have been evaluated.
A total of $1,765,000 will be available for awards in Arkansas, with AEO directing these funds to projects involving one of four areas from the U.S. Department of Energy’s list of eligible projects:
energy efficiency retrofits,
energy efficiency audits,
energy efficient transportation, and
workforce development.
DOE has defined a "streetlight" as "an outdoor source of light that is raised and that is intended to provide functional illumination to the area below the light." Therefore, ball parks, sidewalks, and parking lots, all would be considered "streetlights" and eligible for funding as long as the project involves the "replacement of lights" and not poles and other equipment.
AEO will grant projects from $9,000 to $200,000 and all required documentation must be submitted online using the AEO Hub Submittable Portal. An application guide can be found on AEO’s EECBG web page.
EECBG Grant Basics
Administered by: Arkansas Energy Office (via DOE funding)
Funding Range: Up to $200,000 per award
Deadline: Rolling basis (encouraged to apply early)
Who’s Eligible?
Arkansas cities and counties NOT included in the original DOE formula grant list
Not sure if you’re eligible? We’ll help you check.
Project Examples
Energy audits of public buildings
HVAC upgrades & weatherization
LED streetlight or facility retrofits
EV charging infrastructure
Solar or battery storage for critical facilities
Energy planning or climate action plans
How AAEA & AAEF Can Help
As Arkansas’ trusted nonprofit energy partner, we provide:
Application guidance and project scoping
Stakeholder coordination with local utilities, vendors, and experts
Grant compliance assistance
Support identifying additional funding or match resources
We’re already working with communities across the state to make the most of this opportunity.
Why Partner with Us?
Nonprofit mission-driven: Focused on saving you money and building energy resilience
Deep expertise: We’ve helped secure millions in energy funding across Arkansas
Local network: Connect with vetted vendors, engineers, and peer communities