The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) was established by the Arkansas Legislature in 1987 by Arkansas Act 729 (now codified as Arkansas Code Annotated 15-12-101 through 15-12-103). The act created the ANCRC to manage and supervise a grants and trust fund for the acquisition, management, and stewardship of state-owned properties acquired or used for ANCRC approved purposes. The grants are funded through the state's real estate transfer tax. The ANCRC consists of eleven voting members. Grants from this fund are for projects that protect and maintain state-owned natural areas, historic sites, and outdoor recreation.
Laura McClellan
[email protected]
| Description | Date/Deadline |
|---|---|
| Application available in the Grant Management Portal | 3rd Week in December, 2025 |
| Deadline to submit information to the ANCRC Coordinator | 1st Monday in February, 2026 |
| Deadline to Complete the online application | 1st Monday in March, 2026 by 4 p.m. |
| Deadline to submit Funding Meeting PowerPoint presentation | Wednesday, May 13, 2026 |
| ANCRC Funding Meeting Date | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 |
| Date of Project Implementation | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| Funding Requests | Due between July 15th - 20th, 2026 |
| Progress or Final Report | Due January 30th - July 30th, 2027 |
There are currently no announcements.
Applicants who have not applied for an ANCRC grant online should send the contact information of the Grant Coordinator who will be completing the online application/who will be the point of contact throughout the application process. Information should be sent to Laura McClellan at [email protected] by the 1st Monday in February with NEW ANCRC/organization name in the subject line to receive your organization’s logon information and additional instructions.
For new projects, a brief summary (one paragraph) of the project is requested. With the summary, send the contact information of the Grant Coordinator who will be completing the online application/who will be the point of contact throughout the application process. Information should be sent to Laura McClellan at [email protected] by the 1st Monday in February.
Discussing preliminary construction plans with ANCRC and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) staff prior to application submission is recommended. Email [email protected] by the first Monday in February.
To be considered at the ANCRC Funding Meeting, applicants must complete the online application by 4 p.m. on the 1st Monday in March. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Please review the FY 2027 Guide to Grants and the information provided carefully.
Power Point presentations for the Funding Meeting are due by Wednesday May 13, 2026. The ANCRC Funding Meeting will be on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Applicants will receive additional information in early April. A Mandatory Grantee Meeting will be scheduled after the Funding Meeting.
Projects funded during a regular annual grant period. These grants are submitted through the regular annual grant cycle with projects and expenditures occurring between July 1 and June 30 of each year.
Projects for unanticipated opportunities deemed highly significant and critical for the State to fund, according to the SCORP (Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) guidelines and the Council’s other review criteria. Funded through a limited amount established by the Council at the annual funding meeting and if the Council desires, through the receipt of returned funds incapable of being spent by original grantees. Emergency grants may be approved by the Council Officers up to the amount determined annually by the Council, with review by the full Council at the next regular meeting after an award is made. Awards may not be made to grants which can be submitted through the regular annual grant process.
Applicants for funding from the Natural and Cultural Resources Grants and Trust Fund shall be agencies of the State of Arkansas receiving General Revenue funding and are authorized by law to acquire, manage, operate or maintain State-owned lands or to preserve State-owned historic sites, buildings, structures or objects which the Council determines to be of value for recreation or conservation purposes for the benefit of this and future generations.
The Council will fund projects for acquisition, management and stewardship of State-owned lands or the preservation of State-owned historic sites, buildings, structures or objects which the Council determines to be of value for recreation or conservation purposes; said purposes to be used, preserved or conserved for the benefit of this and future generations.
In funding State Park improvements, the Council shall initially emphasize the restoration or renovation of existing facilities and historic structures within the system.
Projects shall be selected for funding on the basis of their conformity with these purposes, pursuant to Arkansas Act 729 of 1987, as codified in A. C. A. 15-12-101 through 15-12-103, or its successor.
To qualify for funding as a historic preservation project, a site, building or structure must either be on, or determined eligible to be on, the National Register of Historic Places. Any question of eligibility will be determined by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
In selecting projects to be funded, the Council shall be guided by the principles set forth in the Arkansas Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) published by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, and the Council’s review criteria, as the same may exist and be in force from time to time.
For more detailed information about ANCRC grants, please click the buttons below.