MorrisonGrants

Welcome back my friends to the Land of Weird.  So much to choose from this time around…

It’s hard to imagine a grant program that generates more “buzz” than the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  We get calls on it all the time from across the nation.  I mean, this grant has it all: non-profits and universities aren’t eligible, small businesses and individuals are

Welcome back to the ‘land of weird’ my friends. Oh, and before I forget: “Happy Egg Month.” 

People often ask us “Am I eligible for grants?”  The answer is a tough one since all grants have their own eligibility criteria. 

With April 15 having come and gone, it’s time to take a moment and reflect on where our tax dollars are being spent.  I’m sure you gazed lovingly at your Form 1040 and sealed that envelope with a kiss before placing it in the capable hand of the USPS; now I hope you find comfort in the following grant programs:

The USDA Rural Development has just announced the 2010 Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG).  The RBEG is designed to provide technical assistance to businesses; establish or re-capitalize a relending program; conduct training programs in connection with technical assistance; and create, expand, and operate rural distance learning networks.  Other funding activities may also be eligible, so contact your USDA RD office.

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.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it; more news from the land of the strange and bizarre!  For those of you waiting anxiously for more news on Wyoming’s pygmy rabbits . . . your wait is over, my friends.

Many of you are anxiously awaiting the upcoming announcement for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  This program is somewhat unique in that it is tailored for for-profit organizations AND it will pay for equipment such as solar systems.  For those of you still considering whether or not to apply for the grant, there are a couple important things you should know.

The USDA has now formally announced  its Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG).  This program is a “flow-through” program to the states.  That means that states apply to the USDA for funds and then you apply to the state.  Several states, including California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Washington, have “jumped the gun” a bit by accepting applications in anticipation of this announcement from the USDA.

We often get asked, “What’s the craziest grant you’ve ever seen?”  Well that’s a fine question and could easily segue into a debate on the virtues of using tax-payer money for “pork” projects.  Of course, if you are the recipient of such funds, there’s no such thing as “pork;” those other guys are just bitter they didn’t get their share.  No, this posting will not explore that debate; I fear I already have said too much on the subject.  Instead, I’ll just share some of the more weird and bizarre grants that we’ve come across.