Arkansas is launching programs to strengthen homes against wind and hail. New grants and incentives will help homeowners protect their properties from severe weather.
Grant Programs
Mitigation grant programs provide homeowners with funds to enhance their homes' resilience against storms and other natural hazards, such as wildfires and floods.
- Strengthen Arkansas Homes Program: Under development. The program will allow homeowners and non-profits to apply for grants administered through the state insurance department to protect homes against wind or hail damage using FORTIFIED Home construction standards. More Details.
- FORTIFIED Fund Grant Program - Qualifying households may receive up to $15,000 for a roof replacement on an existing home or up to $7,500 towards a FORTIFIED Roof on a new construction property. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas operates this program. More Details.
Mitigation Insurance and Tax Incentives
Property owners, residents, and businesses can receive insurance discounts and tax breaks to build stronger to better withstand damage from natural hazards.
- FORTIFIED Roof Endorsement - Insurers are required to offer an endorsement to a homeowners policy to upgrade their home to an IBHS FORTIFIED Roof if it is damaged and needs replacing. More Details.
- Arkansas Mitigation Assistance Resource Guide - This guide provides an initial list of federal and state resources, including grants, technical assistance, loans, and other means of support. It will help state, local, and tribal officials determine a possible source(s) of funding and technical assistance for their potential mitigation projects. More Details.
- Wetland & Riparian Zones Tax Credit Program - Arkansas Code Annotated §26-51-1501 et seq allows a state income tax credit to be taken by taxpayers who engage in the development, restoration, or conservation of wetland and riparian zones through projects approved by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department). More Details.
- FHLB Dallas Affordable Housing Program (AHP) The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas's Affordable Housing Program awards grants to member institutions for affordable housing developments, prioritizing FORTIFIED construction with additional scoring points to enhance resilience against storms. More Details.
Continuing Education
We are a certified Continuing Education Provider offering specialized training for Insurance Agents, Adjusters, Home Builders, Roofers, and Real Estate Agents to enhance their expertise and meet professional licensing requirements.
"Really appreciated this class. Very rarely have I been in a CE class that actually teaches me something USEFUL for my team to offer to customers. Appreciate it!"
- Insurance Agent
Funding to Help Rebuild or Re-Roof
These federal and mortgage-backed programs may provide financing for disaster recovery, home repairs, energy upgrades, and rehabilitation, supporting homeowners, renters, and small businesses, particularly for those with low incomes or who are affected by disasters.
Small Business Administration Loans - Those affected by a disaster can rebuild stronger by increasing their SBA disaster assistance loan up to 20% of the verified physical damage to make mitigation improvements. There is no cost to apply, and you are under no obligation to accept a loan if approved.
- Generally, borrowers have two years after loan approval to request an increase for higher rebuilding costs, code-required upgrades, or mitigation.
- Call (800) 659-2955 and ask about increasing your loan for mitigation purposes, or visit sba.gov/disaster for more information.
Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation Loans - A mortgage that provides a simple and flexible way for borrowers to renovate or make home repairs with a conventional first mortgage, rather than a second mortgage, home equity line of credit, or other more costly methods of financing.
Fannie Mae HomeStyle Energy Loans - A mortgage that helps lenders offer financing for homeowners to increase home energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.
- Both HomeStyle Renovation and HomeStyle Energy mortgages may be combined with a HomeReady® mortgage so that low-income borrowers can take advantage of flexible features and additional savings.
USDA- Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants - A loan program providing loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their homes. Grants are also available for very-low-income elderly homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
HUD 203(k) Loans - A loan program for rehabilitating and repairing single-family properties, allowing homebuyers and homeowners to finance both the purchase or refinancing of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage, or to finance the rehabilitation of their existing home.
- The 203(k) program permits homebuyers and homeowners to finance up to $35,000 into their mortgage to repair, improve, or upgrade their homes.
HUD Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims - 203 (h) - Loan program for renters or homeowners if their homes are located in an area designated by the President as a disaster area and were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary. These loans may be used to finance the purchase or reconstruction of a one-family home that will be the homeowner's principal residence.
- The borrower must submit their application to an FHA-approved lending institution within one year of the President's disaster declaration.
Resilience Policy and Legislation
Legislation and regulation are tools used to encourage and incentivize building to higher standards, thereby reducing losses and costs for property owners and residents.
- AR 2025 SB366: Establishes the Strengthen Arkansas Homes grant program to help homeowners strengthen homes against wind and hail damage. More Details.