Kicking Off 2026 Strong with Six Arkansas Workforce Grants

Happy New Year from the Arkansas Advanced Energy Team. We have been made aware of the following timely grants that might be good partnership opportunities between us and our members and workforce development partners. Please  let us know if you decide to apply!

1. Energy Equity for Renters from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) - due January 6, 2026

   This initiative is offering no-cost technical assistance for at least five local governments and community-based organizations (CBOs) to help improve the energy efficiency of rental housing while preserving or expanding housing affordability. Local governments and CBOs must submit their application no later than January 9, 2026.

2. Municipal Workforce Learning Lab from National League of Cities and American Institutes for Research - due January 16, 2026

   NLC is seeking three cities committed to enhancing their support for their municipal workforce to participate in an 8-month intensive action planning process to build city capacity to drive changes in policies, practices, and programs that advance economic opportunity for city residents and employees.

3. Trust in Practice Awards from The Alliance for Social Trust, an initiative of the Aspen Institute, in partnership with Allstate - due January 30, 2026

   This grant seeks to improve trust in communities. While this is certainly a thread within the work that we do, it is not our prime goal. Accordingly, if this feels like a better fit for your organization, we would love to work with you through our existing programs. For example, trust issues have been brought up in the context of C-PACE, where LIDAC communities have a distrust of financing mechanisms. In addition, our Central AR SkillStream community partners include organizations that provide services for individuals who are justice-involved, very low income or veterans and their families. Our employer survey identified work needed to build trust among employers and job seekers from these groups. The intersection of these two realities and the prospect of healthier, resource-efficient buildings provided by-and-for LIDAC communities could make a compelling case for participation in this grant.

4. The Innovation Fund from The Workers Lab - due January 30, 2026

1. Mentorship, training, and up to $200,000 in funding for worker-centered innovation.

5. Scholarship Opportunity: Up to $20,000 for Neurodiverse Students - due February 1, 2026

   The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Scholarship, in partnership with the SME Education Foundation, is now accepting applications. This program offers multiple scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support neurodiverse students pursuing careers in manufacturing. Learn more and apply at smeef.org/scholarships.

6. Climate Smart Communities Initiative for climate resilience projects - due March 2026

   The program prioritizes funding for communities that include historically disinvested populations at increased risk to climate-related impacts. It is open to US-based project teams composed of a climate adaptation practitioner and representatives from a local or regional government entity and a community-based organization.