Federal grants in Arkansas
Federal agencies awarded $60 billion in grants to recipients in Arkansas from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $34 billion.
- Arkansas ranks 32nd of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Arkansas fell from $13 billion in fiscal 2021 to $12 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 91%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 57%.
Grants in Arkansas by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Arkansas
- Grants for colleges and universities in Arkansas
- Grants for nonprofits in Arkansas
- Grants for businesses in Arkansas
- Grants for small businesses in Arkansas
- Grants for tribes in Arkansas
- Grants for individuals in Arkansas
Private foundations based in Arkansas: 439 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Arkansas
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $44 billion in Arkansas, 74% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $6.0 billion to recipients in Arkansas. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Arkansas
Largest grant recipients in Arkansas
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 29 | $35 billion |
| Department of Education Arkansas | State and local governments | 160 | $5.9 billion |
| Arkansas Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 2,873 | $4.4 billion |
| Arkansas Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 43 | $1.4 billion |
| Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Other | 32 | $1.2 billion |
| Arkansas Department of Health | State and local governments | 167 | $1.1 billion |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Colleges and universities | 327 | $557 million |
| Arkansas Division of Workforce Services | State and local governments | 85 | $533 million |
| Arkansas Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 80 | $510 million |
| Arkansas Division of Emergency Management | State and local governments | 74 | $484 million |
| Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality | State and local governments | 102 | $467 million |
| Arkansas Natural Resources Commission | State and local governments | 72 | $457 million |
| University of Arkansas | Colleges and universities | 464 | $380 million |
| Military Department, Arkansas National Guard | State and local governments | 78 | $318 million |
| Arkansas Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 60 | $286 million |
| Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development | Nonprofits | 63 | $281 million |
| AR Department of Human Services | State and local governments | 60 | $209 million |
| Dept of Finance & Administration | State and local governments | 60 | $205 million |
| Executive Office of the State of Arkansa | State and local governments | 3 | $204 million |
| Rehabilitation Services, Arkansas | State and local governments | 27 | $177 million |
Browse all 480 federal grant recipients in Arkansas
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Arkansas came to $59 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 1,544 | $8.5 billion |
| Washington County | 775 | $668 million |
| Benton County | 355 | $344 million |
| Jefferson County | 220 | $322 million |
| Mississippi County | 215 | $314 million |
| Craighead County | 293 | $301 million |
| Pope County | 195 | $202 million |
| Faulkner County | 154 | $183 million |
| Crawford County | 109 | $181 million |
| Crittenden County | 153 | $181 million |
| Prairie County | 72 | $171 million |
| Garland County | 159 | $167 million |
| Sebastian County | 180 | $166 million |
| Drew County | 58 | $148 million |
| Saline County | 138 | $147 million |