audience to give to and support these vital services .”
CEO of FCV , Brad Cornelius , highlights the organization ’ s commitment to supporting agriculture and rural communities beyond financial services . He expresses pride in giving back to customer-owners by helping strengthen the communities they live in and emphasized the organization ’ s role in advancing WVTF ’ s initiative to supply Virginia food banks with fresh milk from local dairy farmers .
Energy Efficiency , Renewable Energy Assistance Available from USDA
All West Virginia small businesses , including agricultural producers , are eligible for funding from the U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) Rural Development through its Rural Energy for America Program ( REAP ) to install , upgrade or expand renewable energy systems or improve the energy efficiency of their operations .
Through a supporting Rural Development grant , Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center ( MAMC ) will provide free technical support to educate companies about the program , assist eligible businesses with the application process and provide the requisite energy audits and assessments .
“ Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration , Rural Development is committed to creating new opportunities for small businesses and agricultural producers in our rural communities ,” says Ryan Thorn , USDA Rural Development state director for West Virginia . “ This REAP TAG investment will support Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center ’ s efforts to provide critical technical
assistance to farmers and small businesses , allowing them to cut energy costs , bolster their bottom lines and reinvest back into their operations and communities .”
Businesses can receive between $ 1,500 and $ 500,000 for energy efficiency upgrades . The grants will provide up to 50 % of the eligible costs for things like the replacement of energy-inefficient equipment , heating and cooling , lighting , cooling and refrigeration units , ventilation and fans , energyefficient doors and windows , automated controls and insulation .
The program offers renewal energy grants of between $ 2,500 and $ 1 million , which also cover up to 50 % of the project ’ s total costs . Eligible projects include solar , wind , anaerobic digesters , biomass , geothermal and hydroelectric under 30 megawatts .
In addition , REAP provides loan guarantees up to 75 % of the total cost to cover these and similar types of renewable energy or energy efficiency projects . Guaranteed loans range from $ 5,000 to $ 25 million .
“ The goal of REAP is to foster U . S . energy independence while reducing costs for small businesses and agricultural producers ,” says Derek Scarbro , MAMC director . “ Our role is to help West Virginia businesses take advantage of this assistance so they can save money and grow their operations . We ’ re ready to assist throughout the application process .”
To apply for REAP assistance , businesses must register with the federal government ’ s System for Award Management at SAM . gov and obtain a unique entity identification
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