Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP REAP 2014
Apply for RDBCP REAP 2014
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Renewable Energy for America Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868 Rural Energy for America Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 20, 2014 and posted on May 12, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 2014 Grant applications and combined grant and guaranteed loan applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects under this Notice will be accepted up to July 7, 2014. Guaranteed loan only applications for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement projects will be accepted on a continuous basis, but to compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding, complete applications must be submitted to the Agency by July 31, 2014. For all applications submitted under this Notice, complete applications must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 430 p.m. local time of the applicable application deadline date in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2014 funds. Any application received after its applicable date and time, regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be considered for Fiscal Year 2014 funds.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $28,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 800 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals Small businesses.
- To be eligible for this program, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.109, 7 CFR 4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR 4280.112, or 7 CFR 4280.122. For the purpose of this Notice, and in addition to meeting the small business size determination as defined under small business in 7 CFR 4280.103, rural small business applicants must demonstrate that the majority (i.e., 51 percent or more) of their past 3 years annual receipts from their business operation are derived from a rural area. If the rural small business applicant has not engaged in business operations for the past 3 years, then information for as long as the rural small business applicant has been in business must be submitted. To ensure that there is sufficient information for the Agency to make this determination, rural small business applicants, as part of their application requirements in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(3)(v)(A), should list the physical address, total annual receipts, and number of employees for each urban or rural location. The Agency will make this determination for rural small business applicants that do not have any annual receipts (new businesses only) on the location of the rural small business applicant.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) is a USDA Rural Development funding opportunity that supports agricultural producers and rural small businesses that want to lower their energy costs and reduce overall energy use. The program does this by offering grant funding to help pay for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, as well as for energy efficiency improvement projects. In practical terms, REAP is aimed at helping rural operations modernize their energy use, become more efficient, and contribute to broader national energy goals by encouraging cleaner energy production and reduced consumption.
This particular opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP REAP 2014) is a discretionary grant program in the Agriculture and Energy activity areas, listed under CFDA 10.868 (Rural Energy for America Program). The total estimated funding available was about $28,000,000, with an expectation of roughly 800 awards. Individual award amounts ranged from a minimum (floor) of $2,500 up to a maximum (ceiling) of $500,000, depending on project size and eligibility. The listing indicates no cost-sharing or matching requirement in the summary data, though applicants still needed to follow the program rules and application requirements in the referenced regulations.
Eligible applicants fall into two main groups: individuals (in the context of agricultural producers) and small businesses, as long as they qualify as rural small businesses under USDA rules. Eligibility is governed by USDA regulations at 7 CFR 4280.109 and 7 CFR 4280.110(c), and, depending on project type, additional sections including 7 CFR 4280.112, 7 CFR 4280.122, and other related provisions. A key requirement for rural small businesses under this notice is demonstrating that the majority of their annual receipts over the past three years (51 percent or more) are derived from a rural area. If the business has operated for fewer than three years, it must submit financial and location information for the time it has been in operation. Applicants are expected to provide enough detail for USDA to make the rural-eligibility determination, including listing each business location (urban or rural), its physical address, annual receipts, and number of employees. For brand-new businesses with no receipts yet, USDA determines eligibility based on the location of the business.
The application deadlines were structured around the type of request being submitted. Grant-only applications and combined grant plus guaranteed loan applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects were accepted up to July 7, 2014. Guaranteed-loan-only applications were accepted on a continuous basis, but applicants wanting to compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding had to submit complete applications by July 31, 2014. For all application types under this notice, USDA required that complete application packages be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on the relevant deadline date. Late arrivals were not considered for Fiscal Year 2014 funding, even if they were postmarked earlier. The opportunity was posted May 12, 2014, created May 20, 2014, and later archived August 30, 2014.
Administration of the opportunity sat within USDA Rural Development, specifically the Business and Cooperative Programs area, with program support through the Energy Division. The funding announcement directed applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically to contact the listed program point of contact, Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development, Energy Division.
Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) (Funding Opportunity Number: RDBCP REAP 2014) - FAQs
1) What is the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP)?
The Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) is a USDA Rural Development funding opportunity designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses lower energy costs and reduce overall energy use. REAP provides grant funding to support the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems and to support energy efficiency improvement projects.
2) What kinds of projects does this REAP opportunity support?
This opportunity supports two main categories of projects: (1) renewable energy systems, and (2) energy efficiency improvement projects. The goal is to help rural operations modernize energy use, improve efficiency, and encourage cleaner energy production and reduced consumption.
3) Who is the federal agency administering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA Rural Development, within the Business and Cooperative Programs area, with program support through the Energy Division.
4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing for this program?
This opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP REAP 2014 and is listed under CFDA 10.868 (Rural Energy for America Program).
5) Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The listing identifies this as a discretionary grant program in the Agriculture and Energy activity areas.
6) How much funding was estimated to be available under this opportunity?
The total estimated funding available was about $28,000,000.
7) About how many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity indicated an expectation of roughly 800 awards.
8) What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
Individual award amounts ranged from a minimum (floor) of $2,500 to a maximum (ceiling) of $500,000, depending on project size and eligibility.
9) Does the summary information indicate a cost-share or matching requirement?
The summary data indicates no cost-sharing or matching requirement. However, applicants were still required to follow program rules and the full application requirements referenced in the applicable USDA regulations.
10) Who was eligible to apply under this notice?
Eligible applicants fell into two main groups: (1) individuals (in the context of agricultural producers), and (2) small businesses, as long as they qualify as rural small businesses under USDA rules.
11) What USDA regulations governed eligibility for applicants?
Eligibility is governed by USDA regulations at 7 CFR 4280.109 and 7 CFR 4280.110(c). Depending on project type, additional sections apply, including 7 CFR 4280.112 and 7 CFR 4280.122, along with other related provisions.
12) What is a key rural eligibility requirement for rural small businesses under this notice?
A key requirement was demonstrating that the majority of the business's annual receipts over the past three years (51 percent or more) were derived from a rural area.
13) What if a business has been operating for fewer than three years?
If the business had operated for fewer than three years, it needed to submit financial and location information for the period it had been in operation.
14) What if a business is brand new and has no receipts yet?
For brand-new businesses with no receipts yet, USDA determines eligibility based on the location of the business.
15) What information did applicants need to provide to support a USDA rural eligibility determination?
Applicants were expected to provide enough detail for USDA to make the rural eligibility determination. The notice indicates this included listing each business location (urban or rural), each physical address, annual receipts, and the number of employees.
16) What were the deadlines for grant-only and combined grant plus guaranteed loan applications?
Grant-only applications and combined grant plus guaranteed loan applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects were accepted up to July 7, 2014.
17) Were guaranteed-loan-only applications accepted on a rolling basis?
Yes. Guaranteed-loan-only applications were accepted on a continuous basis under this notice.
18) If applying for a guaranteed loan only, what deadline applied to compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding?
Applicants seeking to compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding had to submit complete guaranteed-loan-only applications by July 31, 2014.
19) What time of day were applications due?
USDA required that complete application packages be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on the relevant deadline date.
20) Were late applications considered if they were postmarked by the deadline?
No. Late arrivals were not considered for Fiscal Year 2014 funding, even if the application was postmarked earlier.
21) Where did applicants have to submit their application packages?
Applications had to be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office (by the stated deadline date and time).
22) When was this opportunity posted, created, and archived?
The opportunity was posted on May 12, 2014, created on May 20, 2014, and later archived on August 30, 2014.
23) Who was listed as the program point of contact for applicants who could not access the announcement electronically?
The funding announcement directed applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically to contact Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development, Energy Division.
24) What is the overall purpose of REAP in practical terms?
In practical terms, REAP is aimed at helping rural operations modernize their energy use, become more efficient, and contribute to broader national energy goals by encouraging cleaner energy production and reduced consumption.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Business and Cooperative Programs
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Energy
Next opportunity: Child Development Research Fellowship Program
Previous opportunity: National Park Service Searching for Close Relatives of Pseudogymnoascus destructans and clues to natural defenses in Bat Microbiota
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RDBCP REAP 2014
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RDBCP REAP 2014) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans Apply for RBCP 08 REEEP Funding Number: RBCP 08 REEEP Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| FOA Biomass Research and Development Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000510 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000510 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RDBCP REAP 2014", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.