Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities

Post Date

October 28th 2015

Application Due Date

December 14th 2015

Funding Opportunity Number

RD-RUS-HECG15

CFDA Number(s)

10.859

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Business and Commerce
Community Development
Energy

Number of Awards

12

Eligibility Categories

State Governments
County Governments
City or Township Governments
Special District Governments
Independent School Districts
Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments
Public Housing Authorities or Indian Housing Authorities
Non-Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Organizations
Non-Profits With 501 (c) (3) Status With The IRS (Except Higher Education Institutions)
Non-Profits Without 501 (c) (3) Status With The IRS (Except Higher Education Institutions)
Private Institutions of Higher Education
Individuals
For-Profit Organizations (Except Small Businesses)
Small Businesses
Other

Individuals may apply on behalf of unincorporated community organizations. Awards will not be made directly to individuals. Eligible applicants also include sole proprietorships, legally-organized for-profit or nonprofit organizations such as, but not limited to, a corporation, association, partnership (including a limited liability partnership), cooperative, or trust. Applicant must be located in the United States, a U.S. Territory or other area authorized by law to participate in programs of the Rural Utilities Service or under the Rural Electrification Act.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $10000000

• Award Range:

  $50000 - $3000000

Grant Description

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of up to $10 million in competitive grants to assist communities with extremely high energy costs. The grant funds may be used to acquire, construct, or improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities where average annual residential expenditure for home energy exceeding 275 percent of the national average. Eligible projects also include on-grid and off-grid renewable energy projects and implementation of energy efficiency, and energy conservation projects for eligible communities. Projects cannot be for the primary benefit of a single household or business. Grant funds may not be used for the preparation of the grant application, payment of utility bills, fuel purchases, routine maintenance or other routine operating costs, or for the purchase of any equipment, structures, or real estate not directly associated with provision of community energy services. See the published Notice of Solicitation of Applications which describes the eligibility and application requirements, the criteria that will be used by RUS to award funding, and information on how to obtain application materials.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of Agriculture

• Office:

  Utilities Programs

• Agency Contact:

  Robin Meigel
  Finance Specialist
  Phone: 202-720-9452

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Robin.Meigel@wdc.usda.gov

• Agency Email Address:

  Robin.Meigel@wdc.usda.gov

• More Information:

  High Energy Cost Grant Program Home Page.