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Nationally Competitive Programs

Health Information Technology

The Recovery Act HITECH Grants will fund approximately 70 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers around the county to provide technical assistance and support. The funds will also provide state-level grants to share information across a nationwide system of health information networks. In response to the recent notification of the federal HITECH Grants, Governor Mike Beebe convened a Governor’s Health Information Technology Task Force (HIT Task Force). The HIT Task Force will pursue a significant amount of grant funds to develop the state’s Health Information Technology infrastructure and produce the following desired outcomes:

  • optimize provider readiness,
  • increase state competitiveness,
  • develop health system improvements, and
  • focus on consumer health.

Arkansas’s goal is to improve the state’s healthcare system with opportunities provided by the HITECH Act. As a result of ARRA funds, Arkansas will advance the electronic health resources available to consumers, providers and payors:

  • to improve access and quality of healthcare services,
  • reduce inefficiencies and avoidable costs, and
  • optimize health outcomes for Arkansas residents.

State health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement (HIE)


Broadband Development

Similar to the rural electrification programs of the 1930s, the ARRA strides to bring economic opportunities to rural, unserved, and underserved areas of the country. Multiple studies of domestic e-infrastructure have shown the need for America to invest in its communication and commerce-supporting technologies, as to expand or gain competitive advantages in the global economy. Grants for deploying broadband infrastructure in said areas, enhancing broadband capacity at public computer centers, and promoting sustainable broadband adoption, intend to facilitate such advantages.

Race to the Top

The Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA); and achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring that students are prepared for success in college and careers.

The Arkansas Department of Education strongly supports the Race to the Top program as a unique opportunity to support our systemic reform efforts. Arkansas has made significant steps in its effort to build on the four education reform areas – standards and assessments; improved use of data; teacher effectiveness; and addressing the needs of struggling schools. The Race to the Top grant will allow Arkansas to accelerate its efforts to ensure all students receive the quality education they deserve.

Alternative Energy

The ARRA affords two unique grant programs for alternative energy development, in addition to numerous "green" initiatives. In its Statement of Purposes, the ARRA explicitly lays out that the Act intends to "invest in environmental protection . . . that will provide long-term economic benefits."

Research and Development

Grants to support research in the following areas: advanced scientific computing research; biological and environmental research; basic energy sciences, including power transit; fusion energy sciences; high energy physics; and nuclear physics are available.


Click here for a listing of other nationally competitive programs