MORGANTOWN, July 13, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development West Virginia State Director today announced USDA is making $21 million in technical assistance grants available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses access federal funds for renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.
“Rural people drive our economy, and we understand that at USDA Rural Development. It’s important to the Biden Administration to make sure that our agricultural producers and rural small businesses get a fair chance at grants that will help decrease energy costs and bolster bottom lines,” said Thorn. “The technical assistance grants that are being announced today will provide direct support to West Virginia farmers and rural small businesses seeking federal funding to decrease energy costs and bolster their bottom line through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.”
Eligible recipients for these grants include state, Tribal or local governments; colleges and universities; electric cooperatives and utility companies; and for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Recipients may use the funds to:
- Help rural agricultural producers and small business owners apply for REAP funding.
- Provide information on how business owners and agricultural producers can improve the energy efficiency of their operations and use renewable energy technologies and resources.
- Conduct required energy assessments and audits.
- Help agricultural producers and small business owners plan, build or develop renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.
This announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Bidenomics strategy to grow the American economy from the middle out and bottom up by rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, driving over $500 billion in private-sector manufacturing investments, creating good-paying jobs, and building a clean-energy economy to tackle the climate crisis and make our communities more resilient. REAP is also part of the Justice40 Initiative, which is advancing environmental justice by ensuring that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
USDA will give funding priority to applicants proposing to assist distressed or disadvantaged communities, applicants pursuing projects using underutilized technologies and applicants seeking grants under $20,000.
Interested applicants are encouraged to register for one of the following informational sessions:
- REAP Technical Assistance Grant Deep Dive Webinar
- Tuesday, July 18 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
- Register here
For additional information, contact USDA Rural Development West Virginia Energy Coordinator Robertho Briceno by phone at 681-247-3007, or by email at robertho.briceno@usda.gov, or see the Federal Register.
Inflation Reduction Act: Background
The Biden Administration championed the Inflation Reduction Act to help provide new funding and unprecedented incentives to expand clean energy, transform rural power production, create jobs and spur economic growth. It is the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
The Act provides funding to USDA Rural Development to help eligible organizations invest in renewable energy infrastructure and zero-emission systems and make energy-efficiency improvements that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and bolster their bottom lines. To learn more about investment resources for rural West Virginia, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wv.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates in West Virginia, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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