Lincoln, Neb., August 24, 2010 – USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for the Section 9007 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Feasibility Study Grant program.

The REAP/Feasibility Study Grant Program provides grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to conduct a feasibility study for a renewable energy system.

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis for up to 25 percent of total eligible project costs or $50,000 whichever is less.

Eligible feasibility studies for renewable energy systems include projects that will produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro power and hydrogen-based sources. The energy to be produced includes, heat, electricity, or fuel.

For all projects, the system must be located in a rural area and must be owned by the applicant.

 Applications must be received in your local USDA Rural Development office no later than 4:30 p.m. CT on October 5, 2010.   You can locate the Rural Development office nearest you by visiting: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/Contact_Us.htm.  Application materials can be located online at:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/Energy_Section%209007%20Renewable%20Energy%20Feasibility%20Study%20Funding.htm.   Applications can also be downloaded and submitted through http://www.grants.gov.  The Notice of Funding Availability for Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies Grants under the REAP can be found in the August 6, 2010 Federal Register Vol. 75 No. 151 page 47525. Contact Deb Yocum, rural energy coordinator at 402-437-5554 or debra.yocum@ne.usda.gov. 

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Two Types of Grants Available

Initial Assistance Grants are available to unincorporated cooperative groups or steering committees and can be awarded for amounts up to $2,000.  The grant is designed for groups or steering committees, and others who are exploring a business idea and will conduct exploratory research.

Advanced Development Grants are available to incorporated cooperatively owned businesses (LLCs, Cooperatives, etc.) and can be awarded for amounts up to $3,500.  The grant is designed for groups who are ready to hire professional services (i.e. legal/ financial) or develop marketing materials.

2010 Timeline

• Call for Proposals: February 5, 2010
• Applications Due: March 19, 2010 by 4:00pm Central Time
• Expected Awards Made: April 9, 2010
• Grant Activities Completed no later than September 30, 2010
• Final Reports submitted to NCDC by October 29, 2010
• Approximately six months to complete grant.

NO EXTENSIONS

These are competitive grants.  Funding is limited so not all grants will be funded. Grant applications will be reviewed by Nebraska Cooperative Development Advisory Board members.

For an application, visit the NCDC website.  Questions can be addressed to Jim Crandall, jcrandall3@unl.edu and Elaine Cranford, ecranford2@unl.edu

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Contact: the article’s author, Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Program Director for the Center for Rural Affairs at 402.687.2103 x 1016 or tracib@cfra.org. You can also check out a fact sheet on the program at http://www.cfra.org/resources/vapg/fact_sheet.  This article is from the Center for Rural Affairs’ October 2009 monthly newsletter.

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