NxBizSuccess » Government Funds

REAP Feasibility Study Grant Program

Tonia Franklin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:25:57 +0000

Applications Being Accepted for Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants

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.

USDA Announces Efforts To Increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation

Tonia Franklin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:25:56 +0000

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will award grants of up to $5 million to improve access to and increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly the Food Stamp Program. “The health of our nation – of our economy, our national security, and our communities – depends on the health of our families,” said Vilsack. “These grants will allow us to improve access and increase participation in our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that serves as a vital resource to the most vulnerable Americans. Breaking down barriers to participation will help this Administration deliver on its goal of reducing hunger and improving nutrition across the country.”

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 authorized USDA to award $5 million in grants for state and local government and private non-profit organization projects to simplify SNAP application and eligibility systems and improve access to SNAP benefits by eligible households.

This year, USDA is interested in funding projects that apply a process improvement process (PIP) to the State agency’s application, certification and recertification procedures to make them more efficient and effective. The Department is also interested in funding projects that involve a partnership between a State agency and one or more private non-profit organizations.

The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is June 23, 2010.

“Our programs are enhanced by the creativity and support of our partners at the State and local level who work every day to end hunger in America,” said Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon. “Increasing participation in this critical program and reaching more children and families in need will move us one step closer towards achieving our goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.”

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. The largest program, SNAP, puts healthy food on the table for more than 38 million people it serves each month, half of whom are children.

Grant applications for organizations can be obtained at www.grants.gov.or on the Food and Nutrition Service website at www.fns.usda.gov/snap or by calling the grant officer, Lisa Johnson, at (703) 305-2848.

CCR Federal Debt Flag Information

Marilyn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:18:38 +0000

Effective February 2010, a notification of outstanding federal debt will be active on the Central Contract Registration system. CCR receives updated data from the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the United States Treasury, for the Federal Debt Flag once per week. Any vendors with questions about the flag are to contact the FMS at 800.304.3107.

The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system is a secured repository of vendor data used for governmentwide contracts. The preferred method for completing a registration is via the World Wide Web at www.ccr.gov. Businesses only need to register once. The information submitted will be accessible to all Federal agencies for conducting business. The business owner has access to update the information whenever necessary. Annual renewal is required to remain active.

A CCR Handbook is available at www.ccr.gov to assist with registration. It provides detailed instructions on data needed prior to beginning the on-line registration, as well as steps to help with the registration process.

For additional help with government contracts, contact Andy Alexander, PTAC Program Manager/Counselor, Nebraska Business Development Center. ph: (402) 554-6253

Federal Contractor Certification

Marilyn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:13:42 +0000

The Nebraska Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is offering a Federal Contractor Certification (FCC) Program. The program helps the business owner understand federal contracting guidelines. The training also gives the business owner a solid understanding of federal contracting principles and the motivation and skills to successfully complete a government contract.

The FCC program consists of four levels. Each level is built upon the successful completion of the previous level. Participants will take 35-40 hours of self-paced, online course work and on-site final exams for each module. After all four course levels are complete, there will be an on-site final exam based on all four modules. Upon successful completion of the program, you will become a Certified Federal Contractor, which places your company ahead of non-certified bidders.

To be eligible for the training, a business must be have been in business for two years and a client of the Nebraska PTAC program. A Nebraska PTAC counselor will review the company’s federal registration and a FCC Release form must be signed. Cost for Non-Veteran business owners is $250 per module. NBDC will award scholarships to all VOB/SDVOBs.

Contact Julie Burrell Lillig at 402.595.1828, email jburrell@unomaha.edu to register or visit NBDC online at http://ptac.unomaha.edu/events.cfm.

SBA Loans

Marilyn — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:46:26 +0000

The SBA offers numerous loan programs to assist small businesses. SBA is primarily a guarantor of loans made by private and other institutions, they do not directly loan to businesses. Contact the Nebraska SBA office for a list of Nebraska approved SBA lenders.

7(a) loans are the most basic and most used type loan of SBA’s business loan programs and are only available on a guaranty basis. The loans are provided by lenders who choose to structure their own loans by SBA’s requirements and who apply and receive a guaranty from SBA on a portion of this loan. The SBA does not fully guaranty 7(a) loans.

Besides credit and eligibility criteria, there are general terms and conditions SBA requires of a business seeking financial assistance. This information is available on the SBA Basic 7(a) Loan Program page.

The SBA Microloan Program provides very small loans to start-up, newly established, or growing small business concerns. SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community based lenders (intermediaries) which, in turn, make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts up to a maximum of $35,000. Applications are submitted to the local intermediary and all credit decisions are made on the local level. Interest rates will vary, depending upon the intermediary lender and costs to the intermediary from the U.S. Treasury. Generally these rates will be between 8 eight percent and thirteen percent.

A contact list of eligible Microloan lenders is available on the SBA Microloan page.

SBA America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship due to uncertain economic conditions. Each small business is limited to one ARC loan. ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first. The temporary ARC program offers interest-free loans to viable small businesses, which carry a 100 percent guaranty from the SBA to the lender and require no fees paid to SBA. Loan proceeds are provided over a six-month period and repayment of the ARC loan principal is deferred for 12 months after the last disbursement of the proceeds. Repayment can extend up to five years.

For ARC loan details contact the Nebraska Small Business Association or SBA ARC loan website.

The CDC/504 loan program is a long-term financing tool for economic development within a community. The 504 Program provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. A Certified Development Company is a nonprofit corporation set up to contribute to the economic development of its community. CDCs work with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing to small businesses. The maximum SBA debenture is $1,500,000 when meeting the job creation criteria or a community development goal. Generally, a business must create or retain one job for every $50,000 provided by the SBA except for “Small Manufacturers” which have a $100,000 job creation or retention goal (see below).The maximum SBA debenture is $2.0 million when meeting a public policy goal.

Current SBA 504 lender in Nebraska is the Nebraska Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO)

November Deadline Quickly Nearing for Value-Added Producer Grants

Tonia Franklin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:13:39 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of $18 million for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The deadline to apply is November 30, 2009. To view more information on this grant click on the pdf file below.

November-Deadline-for-Value-Added-Program

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.

SBA Basic Loan Information

Marilyn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:50:33 +0000

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government. Its purpose is to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. There are numerous loan programs offered through the SBA that businesses can access through SBA preferred and certified lenders.

Prior to seeking a SBA loan, review the SBA eligibility requirements to make sure you qualify. Every application needs positive credit merits to be approved. These are the same credit factors a lender will review and analyze before deciding whether to internally approve your loan application, seek a guaranty from SBA to support their loan to you, or decline your application all together.

There is a very informative online training on SBA lending programs. It would be very helpful to individuals considering SBA loans. Finance Primer: Guide to SBA’s Loan Guaranty Programs.

SBA also has a free online course on How to prepare a Loan Package.

USDA Rural Development Grants and Loans

Marilyn — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:51:36 +0000

Promoting a dynamic business environment in rural America is the goal of Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs (BCP), and Business Programs (BP). BP works in partnership with the private sector and the community-based organizations to provide financial assistance and business planning. BP helps fund projects that create or preserve quality jobs and/or promote a clean rural environment. The financial resources of BP are often leveraged with those of other public and private credit source lenders to meet business and credit needs in under-served areas. Recipients of these programs may include individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and private companies.

USDA Programs are:

Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans – Purpose is to bolster the existing private credit structure through the guarantee of quality loans which will provide lasting community benefits.
Intermediary Relending Program Loans – loans are provided to local organizations (intermediaries) for the establishment of revolving loan funds. These revolving loan funds are used to assist with financing business and economic development activity to create or retain jobs in disadvantaged and remote communities.
Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants – Provides zero interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.
Rural Business Enterprise Grants - Grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs.
Rural Business Opportunity Grants – Promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs through provision of training and technical assistance for business development, entrepreneurs, and economic development officials and to assist with economic development planning.
Rural Cooperative Development Grants – For establishing and operating centers for cooperative development for the primary purpose of improving the economic condition of rural areas through the development of new cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives.
Biorefinery Assistance Program – Assist in the development of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels.
Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels – Support and ensure an expanding production of Advanced Biofuels by providing payments to Eligible Advanced Biofuel Producers in rural areas.
Repowering Assistance Program – Encourage the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the operation of these eligible biorefineries.
Rural Energy for America Program – Grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.
Rural Energy for America Program Guaranteed Loan Program – Encourages the commercial financing of renewable energy (bioenergy, geothermal, hydrogen, solar, wind and hydro power) and energy efficiency projects