Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would be investing more than $300 million to help roughly 400 small businesses across the U.S. make energy efficiency and other improvements to their operations. Christianson helped seven of our clients get nearly $1.8 million of these funds for improvements at their facilities, and we can help you with your 2017 REAP application.
USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) allows rural small businesses to apply for grant funding and/or loan guarantees for the purchase, installation, and construction of energy efficiency improvements; or for renewable energy systems such as biomass, hydrogen, wind power, solar, and other alternative energies.
Grants are approved for $1,500 up to $250,000 for energy efficiency projects and $2,500 up to $500,000 for renewable energy systems. Loan guarantees are $5,000 up to $25 million, with up to 75% of eligible project costs and up to 85% of the loan amount for loans under $600,000, declining to 60% for loans from $10-25 million.
Since 2009, USDA’s REAP has provided more than $380 million in grants and almost $688 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small business owners.
The deadline for 2017 grants $20,000 or less are October 31 for the first funding cycle and March 31 for the second. Grant applications greater than $20,000, loan guarantee applications, and all combined grant-loan guarantee applications are due March 31. However, applications for the 2017 REAP cycle are accepted throughout the year.
Christianson can help with the full USDA REAP application process, including forms drafting, report writing, required documentation, and application filing.
For more information about how we can help with you with the USDA REAP application process, please contact us toll-free at 888-852-5937 or at 320-235-5937.
You can also get more information about USDA’s REAP grants and loan guarantees by going to the USDA’s REAP webpage at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency
