Google announces recipients of West Memphis Energy Impact Fund
Google officially announced the first recipients of its $25 million West Memphis Energy Impact Fund, a multi-year initiative designed to scale energy efficiency and affordability for residents in Crittenden County and the surrounding areas. The initial 2026 funding recipients are Crowley’s Ridge Development Council (CRDC), Groundswell and ICF.
“The most effective community investments are those guided by local voices,” said Katie Ottenweller, regional head of energy market development at Google. “The launch of the Community Energy Advisory Council ensures that the West Memphis Energy Impact Fund remains rooted in local needs. We’re grateful to our partners and the inaugural council members for their leadership in creating a sustainable, affordable energy future for West Memphis and the Greater Memphis region.”
Crowley’s Ridge Development Council (CRDC) will use Google funding to make homes "weatherization- ready," addressing health and safety barriers—such as roof leaks or electrical hazards—that often prevent low-income households from qualifying for federal energy programs. After the homes are repaired using Google funding, CRDC will apply federal Weatherization Assistance Program and LIHEAP funds that they administer to make the homes more energy efficient.
Groundswell is partnering directly with the City of West Memphis to establish a new pipeline for home energy improvements. Like CRDC, Groundswell will focus on the dual-need of repairing homes so they are stable enough to receive high-impact energy efficiency upgrades and then upgrade the energy efficiency of the homes.
Google, ICF, and Entergy Arkansas will support approximately 200 residents whose homes need critical pre-weatherization repairs. By aligning the fund with Entergy Arkansas’s Low-Income Solutions (LIS) program, which is administered by ICF, Google’s investment will fund a combination of pre-weatherization (critical structural repairs) and weatherization (efficiency upgrades).
Additionally, we kicked off the Greater West Memphis Energy Affordability Fund, a dedicated community-based fund that will award $1.25 million this year to support projects across West Memphis, Crittenden County, Memphis, and Shelby County. To ensure this funding aligns with local needs, we have seated our first Community Energy Advisory Council—composed of 12 respected local leaders and administered by our partner Elevate—to guide our funding decisions. Applications from eligible nonprofits will open up on May 11, facilitated by Elevate.
We are incredibly grateful to our partners and the inaugural council members for their leadership in creating a sustainable, affordable energy future for the region.
You can read more about the announcement and the ongoing work in a couple of the recent news updates below: