The City of Whitefish will be hosting a workshop on the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding, on November 15th at 6:30 pm, in the City Council Chambers. Lad Barney, Business & Cooperative Programs Director of Montana Rural Development, will provide a presentation on the federal grant program that assists businesses and agricultural producers. Representatives from Montana West Economic Development, which is partnering with USDA on this grant program, will be on hand to help answer questions.
REAP provides grant funding and guaranteed loan financing to rural small businesses and agricultural producers for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Some projects may even qualify for a grant of up to 50% of the total qualifying project costs. There will also be representatives from two of the valley's energy companies to demonstrate how they would work in conjunction with USDA, as partnership examples. USDA is taking applications now for REAP funding; the cycle is on a quarterly basis with the next two application due dates of 12/31/2023 and 03/31/2024.