Pulaski County and the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation have secured a $250,000 grant from the Municipal Investment Fund for energy efficiency work on local buildings and job training in the construction trades.
The county is the sole Arkansas recipient among 50 communities nationwide selected for the funding from 114 total applicants.
County Judge Barry Hyde called the grant “an important step forward in our work to make Pulaski County stronger, more sustainable, and more affordable for everyone.” He highlighted the collaborative effort with AAEF, the MIF, and local partners to help businesses with resources for modernization, energy cost savings, and planning, while also preparing workers for competitive jobs.
The MIF is an initiative by the Coalition for Green Capital and ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA). Its mission is to empower communities through public/private investments, accelerating smart infrastructure projects across the country, according to a news release..
Pulaski County and the nonprofit AAEF will channel the funds into two key initiatives. One will expand the uptake of C-PACE, a financing mechanism for building improvement projects focusing on energy efficiency, alternative energy, building resiliency, and water conservation. The other will bolster workforce development for advanced energy jobs by engaging employers, job seekers, training hubs, and community organizations. The idea is to build a pipeline of shovel-ready energy-efficient building projects and train the workers to tackle them.
“This work aligns with our mission to increase public understanding of the impact of energy investments on Arkansans, paving the way for thriving communities that are affordable and future-ready,” AAEF Executive Director Lauren Waldrip said in a statement.
The AAEF is the educational arm of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association of Little Rock.
ICLEI USA chose Pulaski County because it anticipated community acceptance and saw potential for the work to attract future grants and private investments.
C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure) financing offers a unique way for commercial, industrial, nonprofit, and multifamily property owners to fund improvements, with financing tied to the property itself. In Central Arkansas, a $2.8 million revolving loan fund, established by AAEF and Metroplan, provides capital for projects. The SkillStream workforce development program aims to prepare a diverse range of participants for careers in renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, advanced manufacturing, and electric vehicles through industry exposure, hands-on training, and career development.
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