Arkansas cities, towns, and counties have an opportunity to secure a share of up to $20 million in federal funding aimed at reducing flood risks across the state.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced it is now accepting pre-applications for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Swift Current Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, which provides funding to help communities better protect homes, businesses, and public infrastructure from future flooding.
The Swift Current program is funded by FEMA and administered in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Funding is available only for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
State officials are encouraging eligible communities to begin the application process as soon as possible.
Eligible Projects
Funding may be used for several flood mitigation projects involving properties insured through the National Flood Insurance Program, including:
Voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties
Relocation of flood-damaged or flood-prone structures
Dry floodproofing of historic residential and non-residential buildings
Nonstructural retrofitting of existing buildings and public facilities
Officials say these projects are designed to lessen future flood damage, improve public safety, and reduce disaster recovery costs.
Who Can Apply?
Only cities, towns, and counties may submit pre-applications for funding.
Property owners cannot apply directly but are encouraged to contact their local government if they believe their property may qualify for inclusion in a community application.
Application Deadline
Pre-applications must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2026.
Officials emphasize that only complete applications will be reviewed for consideration.
The Swift Current program is intended to help communities recover from flooding while making long-term investments that reduce future flood risks across Arkansas.
Residents interested in participating should contact their city or county government as soon as possible.
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