MorrisonGrants

Earlier this week, our friend Bob at Pacific Gas & Electric sent over a copy of a paper he wrote for a sustainable building advisor course he is completing.

With fuel and energy prices continually rising and farming operations striving for sustainability, on-farm renewable energy is becoming a popular alternative for farmers across the nation. 

At the California Climate & Agriculture Network Summit last week, Brent Morrison, Morrison & Company’s managing principal, joined a panel discussion about on-farm renewable energy.

Brent provided an o

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

… is really no question if you have a choice.

Many federal, state, and other grant programs use online grant submission processes.  I use the Internet in my work as much as most people and more than many, but unless electronic submission is mandatory, we recommend sticking with paper.

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.

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 equation for finding the right grant is simple: be in the right place at the right time. How to get there is the difficult part and requires diligence and patience. Here are some tips:

Grant proposals take a lot of time, but some areas put applicants at particular risk of creating significant rework or missing critical deadlines. 

OK, you need to know more than three things to write a successful proposal.  However, getting these right can save you a lot of time and headaches.