Dear Friend,
Now that summer has finally arrived, I hope you're all enjoying the warmer weather, longer days, and most importantly – no rain! But with the better weather, I know so many people are facing higher energy bills, and we tend to spend a lot of time outside. That's why I'm excited to share some federal grant opportunities to cut energy costs, keep people cool, and protect our environment this summer.
You can find up-to-date information on all open federal grants here. This spreadsheet is updated regularly as more grants become available and lists grants related to agriculture; arts and culture; business and commerce; community development; consumer protection; disaster prevention and relief; education; employment, labor, and training; energy; environment; food and nutrition; health; infrastructure; income security and social services; natural resources; opportunity zones; regional development; science, technology, and R&D; transportation; and more.
Below are some of the best grant opportunities available right now:
Training for Residential Energy Contractors Program
The Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) Program makes $200 million available to state energy offices so they can train, test, and certify residential energy efficiency and electrification contractors. States can partner with nonprofit organizations to develop and implement these programs. You can find more information about the program here. To view the full FOA Document and to register to apply for the FOA, go to Infrastructure eXCHANGE, the online application portal for the DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). Applications must be submitted by July 12, 2024.
WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants
Through WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, the Bureau of Reclamation provides 50/50 cost-share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states, and other entities with water or power delivery authority. They fund projects that conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of hydropower; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States. Projects are selected through a competitive process and priority goes to projects that can be completed within two or three years. You can find more information on the program here. Electronically submitted applications must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. PT on October 30, 2024.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
The REAP program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy-efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. More information on the program can be found here. Applications are accepted year-round through September 30, 2024.
And don’t forget – my office can also help your grant efforts with a letter of support! Congressional letters of support help show grant reviewers that your project has buy-in from regional stakeholders and make your application more competitive. If you would like to request a letter of support from our office, please contact my team by emailing [email protected] to learn more about how my staff and I can help you!
Warmly,
Sara Jacobs
