Grant funding for small Arkansas communities.
We find, write, and administer grants for rural municipalities, counties, school districts, fire departments, and nonprofits. One team carries your project from the first application to final closeout.
Every stage of the grant, handled.
Small towns rarely have a grants office. Limited staff, tight match requirements, and compliance rules that don’t scale down still apply. We fill that gap.
Find
We match your project to federal and state programs, check eligibility and match, and set a realistic timeline.
Apply
Narratives, budgets, benefit-cost work, letters of support, and portal submission in Grants.gov, FEMA GO, and state systems.
Administer
Procurement under 2 CFR Part 200, drawdowns, environmental review, and quarterly performance reporting.
Close out
Final reports, documentation packages, and audit-ready files so your next application starts clean.
Built for local government and the groups that support it.
- Cities and towns
- County governments
- School districts
- Fire departments
- Sheriff’s offices
- Nonprofits
- Economic development commissions
- Rural utilities
Programs we write and manage.
A sample of the federal and state programs in our current portfolio. Federal programs show their Assistance Listing number.
| Program | Agency | Listing | Typical projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) | FEMA / ADEM | 97.039 | Storm shelters and school safe rooms, drainage, generators |
| Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) | FEMA | 97.047 | Infrastructure hardening, mitigation planning |
| Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) | FEMA | 97.044 | Turnout gear, SCBA, apparatus |
| Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) | FEMA | 97.083 | Firefighter hiring, volunteer recruitment |
| Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) | HUD / AEDC | 14.228 | Water and sewer, community centers, fire stations |
| Community Facilities Program | USDA Rural Development | 10.766 | Public buildings, equipment, vehicles |
| COPS Office grants | U.S. DOJ | 16.710 | Law enforcement equipment and technology |
| Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety (CRISI) | FRA | 20.325 | Short-line rail rehabilitation |
| Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) | Delta Regional Authority | 90.200 | Sewer, water, and transportation infrastructure |
| Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) | ArDOT | 20.205 | Sidewalks, trails, safe routes to school |
| Historic Preservation Restoration Grants | Arkansas Heritage / AHPP | State | Courthouse and historic building rehabilitation |
| Court Security Grants | Arkansas AOC | State | Courthouse security equipment and plans |
The people who write your grants.
Karen Barlow
Karen has worked in grant administration since 1999 and founded Barlow Consulting LLC in 2018. Before that, she worked in bookkeeping and as an independent tax consultant. She is a certified CDBG Grant Administrator and Hazard Mitigation Planner. She completed UCA’s Central Development Institute program in Community and Economic Development and UALR’s Strategic Planning certification. Karen attended Texarkana Community College.
karen@barlowconsultingllc.comCookie Hart
Cookie joined Barlow Consulting in 2021 after a career as a public school educator. She prepares and administers FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, including BRIC and HMGP. Her work also covers hazard mitigation planning, floodplain management, and FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants. Cookie holds a degree from Arkansas State University.
cookie@barlowconsultingllc.comHeather Palmer
Heather joined Barlow Consulting in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of experience in food service management and training. She specializes in CDBG applications, LMI surveys, environmental reviews, Section 3 compliance, and monitoring and closeout reports. She also helps cities, counties, nonprofits, and businesses register in SAM.gov. Heather is certified in HUD Section 3 requirements and as a CDBG Administrator.
heather@barlowconsultingllc.comHave a project that needs funding?
Call or email with a short description. We’ll tell you which programs fit and what the deadlines look like.
