Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021
The REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program is a mandatory USDA grant opportunity administered through the Department of Agriculture, Business and Cooperative Programs. It is designed to support efforts that help rural small businesses and agricultural producers move forward with energy-related projects by paying for professional assistance such as energy audits and the early-stage development work needed to plan renewable energy systems. In practice, the program is meant to help applicants identify energy efficiency improvements, evaluate potential cost savings, and develop the technical and financial groundwork required before a larger energy project can be financed or constructed.
This opportunity was posted under the funding opportunity title "REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program" with the funding opportunity number RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021. The catalog reference is CFDA 10.868. The funding instrument is a grant, and the listed activity categories span education, energy, environment, and regional development, reflecting the program's emphasis on both technical planning and broader community and economic impacts. The announcement date is December 8, 2020, with an original application closing date of February 1, 2021.
Awards under this competition have an upper funding limit (award ceiling) of $100,000, and the agency anticipated making about 23 awards. That ceiling indicates the program is aimed at discrete, targeted assistance scopes (for example, completing an energy audit or assembling the feasibility and engineering documentation for a renewable energy project), rather than funding full construction of large-scale systems. Applicants should expect the funding to be structured around clearly defined deliverables and documentation that demonstrate the value of the audit or development assistance to the end client and the readiness of the proposed next steps.
Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of governmental and educational entities, as well as tribal governments and tribal organizations. Specifically, eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the opportunity's additional eligibility text for clarification, which usually means there may be other eligible entity types (often nonprofits or other qualified organizations) depending on the detailed program rules in the full notice.
The announcement instructs applicants to rely on the official Application Package and Application Instruction links to ensure they use the correct, complete set of required forms. Because USDA grant submissions are typically form- and attachment-heavy, the notice emphasizes that a complete application depends on following those instructions closely. For questions and state-specific guidance, applicants are directed to contact a USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinator, with the coordinator directory provided at http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBSStateEnergyCoordinators.pdf. This is an important step because program implementation details, priorities, and procedural expectations can vary by state, and coordinators can clarify application components, timelines, and common compliance issues before submission.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as planning and technical-assistance funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in rural contexts: it helps organizations perform the analyses and preparatory work that enable energy projects to be properly scoped, justified, and positioned for implementation financing later on, with awards capped at $100,000 and a limited number of expected grants in the cycle referenced by the notice.Apply for RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021
- The Department of Agriculture, Business and Cooperative Programs in the education, energy, environment, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 08, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 01, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 23 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program?
The REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program is a mandatory USDA grant opportunity administered through the Department of Agriculture, Business and Cooperative Programs. It supports rural small businesses and agricultural producers by paying for professional assistance such as energy audits and early-stage development work needed to plan renewable energy systems.
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is designed to help applicants move forward with energy-related projects by funding planning and technical assistance. In practical terms, it is intended to help identify energy efficiency improvements, evaluate potential cost savings, and build the technical and financial groundwork needed before a larger energy project can be financed or constructed.
Does this funding pay for building or constructing renewable energy systems?
Based on the description provided, this opportunity is focused on audits and early-stage development assistance rather than full construction of large-scale systems. The award ceiling and the emphasis on planning deliverables indicate the scope is meant to cover discrete technical assistance activities (such as an energy audit or feasibility and engineering documentation) that prepare a project for later implementation financing.
What kinds of activities or work does the program support?
The notice describes support for professional assistance, including energy audits and early-stage renewable energy development work. This includes analyses to identify energy efficiency improvements, evaluate cost savings, and develop technical and financial documentation needed to plan renewable energy systems and prepare next steps.
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The funding opportunity title is "REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program" and the funding opportunity number is RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The catalog reference listed for this opportunity is CFDA 10.868.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument listed is a grant.
What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The listed activity categories span education, energy, environment, and regional development. This reflects the program's emphasis on technical planning as well as broader community and economic impacts.
When was this opportunity announced?
The announcement date provided is December 8, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date listed in the notice is February 1, 2021.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling for this competition is $100,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The agency anticipated making about 23 awards.
What does the $100,000 award ceiling suggest about project scope?
The ceiling suggests the program is aimed at targeted assistance scopes, such as completing an energy audit or assembling feasibility, engineering, and other planning documentation for a renewable energy project. It signals that awards are intended for defined planning and development deliverables rather than funding full, large-scale construction.
How should applicants think about deliverables and documentation?
Applicants should expect funding to be structured around clearly defined deliverables and documentation that show the value of the energy audit or development assistance to the end client and demonstrate readiness for proposed next steps.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes the following entity types: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.
What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The listing includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the opportunity's additional eligibility text for clarification. This usually indicates there may be other eligible entity types depending on the detailed program rules in the full notice.
What should applicants use to ensure they submit the correct forms?
The announcement instructs applicants to rely on the official Application Package and Application Instruction links to ensure they use the correct and complete set of required forms.
Why is it important to follow the application instructions closely?
The notice emphasizes that USDA grant submissions are typically form- and attachment-heavy, and that a complete application depends on following the instructions closely to include all required forms and attachments.
Who should applicants contact for questions or state-specific guidance?
Applicants are directed to contact a USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinator for questions and state-specific guidance.
Where can applicants find the directory of USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinators?
The coordinator directory is provided at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBSStateEnergyCoordinators.pdf.
Why might speaking with a State Energy Coordinator be important?
The notice highlights that program implementation details, priorities, and procedural expectations can vary by state. Coordinators can clarify application components, timelines, and common compliance issues before submission.
How should this opportunity be understood overall?
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as planning and technical-assistance funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in rural contexts. It supports the analyses and preparatory work needed to properly scope and justify a project and position it for implementation financing later on.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Energy, Environment, Regional Development
Next opportunity: Surveillance and Response to Avian and Pandemic Influenza by National Health Authorities outside the United States
Previous opportunity: Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant
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 EA REDA 2021
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program Apply for RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2016 Funding Number: RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2016 Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Education, Energy, Environment, Regional Development Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
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.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RDBCP REAP EA REDA 2021", 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.