Rural Energy For America Program (REAP) - Technical Assistance Grant
The REAP program provides grants and loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or for new energy efficient equipment.
The Montana Department of Agriculture was recently awarded a second grant by USDA to provide technical assistance for small businesses and ag producers interested in applying to the REAP program. Through the MDA supported Food and Agriculture Development Center Network, applicants in all counties can receive assistance with:
- determining project eligibility;
- filing for System Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registrations; and
- obtaining a grant writer to assist with completing and submitting a REAP grant application.
Who may apply for this program?
- Agricultural producers
- An entity directly engaged in production of agricultural products where at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.
- Small businesses
- Must be located in eligible rural areas and one of the following:
- Private for-profit entity (sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation)
- A Cooperative [including those qualified under Section 501(c)(12) of IRS Code]
- An electric utility (including a Tribal or governmental electric utility) that provides service to rural consumers and operates independent of direct government control)
- A Tribal corporation or other Tribal business entities that are chartered under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act (25 USC 477) or have similar structures and relationships with their Tribal entity without regard to the resources of the Tribal government.
- Must meet the Small Business Administration size standards in accordance with 13 CFR 121.
- Must be located in eligible rural areas and one of the following:
NOTE: Agricultural producers and small businesses must have no outstanding delinquent federal taxes, debt, judgment or debarment.
What funding is available?
- Currently grants are available at up to 25% of eligible project costs.
What is an eligible area?
- Projects must be located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 residents or less*.
- Check eligible rural areas
Agricultural producers may submit projects to be located in non-rural areas as long as the project is associated with an on-site production operation.
Energy Efficiency Improvement applications must contain an Energy Audit, or Energy Assessment (depending on Total Project Costs) that complies with Appendix A to RD Instructions 4280-B
Eligible for purchase:
- Livestock solar well pumps
- Remote cattle watering systems
- Electric, solar, or gravity pumps for pivots
- Diesel to electric irrigation motor conversion
- Commercial hot water heaters
- Compressor retrofits
- HVAC Systems
- Freezer/Coolers
- Lighting, Insulation, Windows
Eligible projects:
- Solar
- Wind
- Biomass
- And more!
Contact your local Food and Ag Development Center to discuss.
Who can answer questions and provide assistance?
Contact your local Food and Agriculture Development Corporation.
The application window is open now!
The Montana Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write or call:
Montana Department of Agriculture
Ag Trade and Development Grants Manager
302 N. Roberts
Helena MT 59601
Telephone: (406) 444-3144
Montana Relay: 711 (for customers with disabilities)
Facsimile: (406) 444-5409
TTY (Telephone Device for the Deaf): (406) 444-6234
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Telephone: (866) 632-9992 (voice);
(800) 877-8339 (Federal Relay)
Email: program.intake@usda.gov
In accordance with State and Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD 3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
or Fax: (202) 690-7442 or (202) 690-7442;
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
