With a mission to break down barriers for Arizona small business owners to receive crucial grant funding through the federal Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Local First Arizona is proud to announce the launch of its REAP grant writing assistance center.
Targeted at assisting rural and tribal small businesses and agricultural producers from across the state of Arizona to cut energy costs through the use of renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency upgrades, REAP funding is made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This opportunity is targeted for agricultural businesses and rural and tribal small businesses from any industry to improve local air quality while reducing energy costs.
But for many small businesses, the task of filling out these very intricate grant applications, which the USDA estimates can take two to three days to fill out, can seem daunting.
With this in mind, Local First Arizona is stepping in to make free grant writing services available to those who qualify. Interested rural and tribal business owners and agricultural producers can request assistance here.
“These grants through the Rural Energy for America Program can be transformative for so many of these small businesses, and the last thing we want is for them not to get this funding because of the difficulty of filling out the application,” says Donya Hasiak, Local First Arizona’s new REAP technical assistance manager.
“As a former small business owner, I know just how strapped you are for time, and the thought of filling out a long grant application can be overwhelming,” Hasiak added. “But at the end of the day, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for farmers, ranchers and rural and tribal small businesses. We are so pleased to be able to help them leverage these cost-cutting opportunities made possible by the USDA.”
REAP will provide $30 million over the next three years in Arizona to cover up to 50% of the cost of projects involving solar, wind and biogas technologies, as well as energy efficiency improvements such as new equipment and building insulation. Without this funding, a project like solar implemented by a small business could take anywhere from 10-15 years to pay off, while a project through REAP can be cut down to 2-3 years.
As part of the grant writing services, Local First Arizona will assist the business owner through the entire process. Representatives will help the business owner identify the necessary paperwork, facilitate an energy efficiency audit through the Industrial Assessment Center at ASU, fill out the grant form and even assist them in finding a local financial institution with green lending products to maximize funding while creating a lower impact on their cash flow.
Anna May Cory, owner of Pines Inn and Suites in Cottonwood, was an early applicant for this funding and installed a solar array on the roof of her hotel. Cory was able to achieve 70% off the installation cost with the help of a $32,000 reimbursement from REAP and $23,000 in tax credits and is now estimating an annual utility bill cost savings of about $10,000.
“For Arizona business owners to be able to save tens of thousands of dollars per year while also creating a more sustainable future is a win-win for everyone,” Hasiak said.
The next quarterly deadline to submit grant applications is Sept. 30.
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