U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad announced an investment of $250,000 through USDA Rural Development’s ?Rural Energy for America Program Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG) for Manufacture Nevada, an industrial extension program of the University of Nevada, Reno. Manufacture Nevada will use this funding to support their wide network of rural Nevadan organizations, small business, and agricultural producers with energy grant applications, funding for assisting in completing Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) applications, and guidance with development, energy assessment and audits. Manufacture Nevada previously received $100,000 funding in the inaugural cycle of REAP TAG awards.
This investment is part of a nationwide announcement made by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, highlighting $163 million in loans, grants and technical assistance that will support 338 clean energy projects in 39 States and Guam.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with people in rural communities across our nation to expand access to clean energy and save rural Americans money,” Secretary Vilsack said. “We are hard at work, continuing what we've always done, supporting rural small businesses and farmers as they create jobs for their communities and drive economic prosperity.”
“We’re proud to see the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in rural infrastructure,” said State Director Ingvoldstad. “Rural Nevadans should be able to harvest the benefits of clean energy no matter where they live. USDA programs like REAP and REAP TAG are critical to ensuring that Nevada’s rural innovators can position their own businesses, farms, and ranches for both economic success and climate resilience for years to come.”
This Rural Development investment addresses a need in Nevada from rural small businesses and agricultural producers for technical assistance to successfully apply for federal REAP assistance necessary to fund the installation and implementation of renewable energy systems, as well as wind and geothermal energy being underutilized renewable energy technologies in Nevada. With these funds, Manufacture Nevada will aim to connect and resolve these issues, assisting at least thirteen agricultural producers or rural small businesses to apply for assistance under REAP for Energy Efficiency Improvements, or Renewable Energy Systems while informing them how to improve or deploy those improvements and systems, also increasing REAP awareness.?
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information, contact a local energy coordinator.
The purpose of the REAP TAG program is to enable applicants to provide technical assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses applying to REAP, with priority for applicants assisting distressed or disadvantaged communities or using underutilized technologies or seeking grants under $20,000.
