MorrisonGrants

In January, Brent and I attended two REAP workshops conducted by Phil Brown, USDA Business and Cooperative Specialist, in Oroville, California. The REAP is a program that we have successfully written for in the past, and like all grant programs, has its own nuances that any applicant needs to understand going into the application process.

The REAP program will assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses with the costs of purchasing and installing renewable energy projects such as solar arrays or wind turbines. This program is somewhat rare in that it treats the purchase of equipment as an eligible cost AND for-profit organizations are eligible applicants. There are, of course, other programs that are like this (search for yourself); it is just that they aren't common.

Here is a short list of things you need to know about the REAP program:

1. 2010 REAP program has not yet been announced, but is forthcoming (expected to be announced in March)
2. You can get up to 25% of your project paid for by REAP (this does NOT include all the other incentives/rebates/tax credits out there)
3. This program is extremely competitive
4. You need to know how to competitively position your application
5. You will need assistance
6. You will need to be able to commit a fair amount of time to preparing the application
7. Starting (and completing) the application quickly are critical to increasing your odds of funding

If you'd like to learn more, I suggest you talk with your state's Rural Development Office. If you're in California and interested, I suggest you contact Phil Brown. We found him to be quite available and very responsive. Remember though, he is a one-man show, and unlike some other states (I'm looking at you Iowa), Phil doesn't have a staff of 12 to return his emails and calls. The moral of the story here is contact him early; don't wait 'til the last minute. Also, check out last year's rules and application templates (this year's rules are expected to be very similar). After talking with Phil, get your team together. You'll need your equipment vendor, installer, engineer, and finally your grant writer all on board. The REAP program has highly detailed requirements and those proposals that follow the rules will score high and get funded. Those that don't will have wasted their time. I'd love to talk with you about your potential REAP project and share my experience from last year. Here's a bit of shameless self promotion: MorrisonGrants wrote one of only two proposals in California that were awarded with the grant and loan guarantee combo, which is the most detailed and complex proposal package. Because of that proposal, there are now four wind turbines turning in an almond and walnut orchard in Butte County, California.

For more REAP tips, read my other blog posting, Thinking about a REAP? Read this first!