United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn announced that the Oklahoma state office is now accepting Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant applications.
A REAP grant is designed to aid small businesses or farms in rural Oklahoma with energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy projects. Potentially more than $5.2 million is available for rural Oklahoma businesses and agriculture producers to apply for up to 50 percent financial assistance on an energy efficient improvement. Past uses of the grant have included LED lighting, energyefficient fans, improved refrigeration, solar power and other energy efficient projects. Applicants must submit their grant package to the state office with the next round of grant funding which became available for application July 1 by Sept. 30.
Corn will be at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Poteau from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday for any business or agricultural producer who wants to learn more about the program and how to apply.
“These grants can be used by a small grocery store to install improved refrigeration units or an ag producer that wants to save costs on cooling for a chicken farm,” Corn said. “Really, any small business owner in rural Oklahoma can benefit from this program with an energy-efficient improvement project. Not only do these grants help save Oklahoma businesses or ag producers on their electric bill, but they also have real impact on our electric grid and our climate by reducing energy demand. By increasing the investments available in Oklahoma from previous years, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to demonstrate how serious they are at finding climate-friendly solutions that benefit all Americans and grow our economy.”
Tolearnmoreaboutthe REAP process, go online to https://www.rd.usda. gov/programs-services/ energy-programs/ruralenergy- america-program- renewable-energysystems- energy/ok.
Stakeholders can also e-mail the state office for more information at okenergy@usda.gov.
