Energy Grant Roundup

First of all we would like to take a moment to congratulate our client, the Mancelona Area Water & Sewer Authority, on once again being named "Best Tasting Water in the Region" by the American Water Works Assn (MI) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment! This is a third-time win for MAWSA, with top honors in 2010, 2007 and 2006. This project first broke ground in the fall of 2001, and included over 17 miles of new watermain.

On to the energy grants available!

Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing grants and loans will provide $20 million to assist small manufacturing companies, currently located in Michigan, to diversify into high-growth clean energy sectors and invest in advanced manufacturing of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and components. Any business physically located in Michigan with 500 or fewer full-time or equivalent employees, or a business that relocates to Michigan by the time of the award is eligible to apply.
Energy Efficiency - due May 21: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Energy_Efficiency_RFP_318749_7.pdf
Renewable Energy - due May 14: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Renewable_Energy_RFP_318752_7.pdf

USDA Energy Grant program options:

REAP Renewal Energy Program
(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of renewable energy generating systems. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $500,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports energy efficiency projects.)

Authorized uses include:

• Renewable energy machinery & equipment – purchase & installation (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after submitting your application).


• Renewable energy real estate improvements – materials & construction (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after


• Feasibility studies, technical/engineering reports, permits, professional fees, & business plans (including reimbursement for such costs whether incurred submitting your application).before or afterapplication date).

REAP Energy Efficiency Program

(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency improvements. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $250,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports renewable energy projects.)

REAP applications are now being accepted for FY2010; the application deadline is June 30, 2010. Awards are likely to be announced in summer 2010.Note: Applicants seeking REAP grants of $20,000 or less are greatly favored in the 2010 selection process.

Contact us for more information!

TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program, Deadline Aug 23

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to award $600 million in TIGER II Discretionary Grants pursuant to Title I (Department of Transportation) of the FY 2010 Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-117, Dec. 16, 2009). This appropriation is similar, but not identical to the appropriation for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or “TIGER Discretionary Grant”, program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”). Because of the similarity in program structure and objectives, DOT is referring to the grants for National Infrastructure Investments under the FY 2010 Appropriations Act as “TIGER II Discretionary Grants”. As with the TIGER program, funds for the TIGER II program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region.

Eligible Applicants for TIGER II Discretionary Grants are State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-State or multi-jurisdictional groups applying through a single lead applicant (for multi-jurisdictional groups, each member of the group, including the lead applicant, must be an otherwise eligible applicant as described in this paragraph).

There is a cost-sharing requirement.

Original Closing Date for Applications:
Aug 23, 2010

The criteria for the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program were announced in the interim notice of funding availability in the Federal Register. The notice requires that pre-applications must be submitted by July 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Final applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by August 23, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Current Closing Date for Applications:
Aug 23, 2010 The criteria for the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program were announced in the interim notice of funding availability in the Federal Register. The notice requires that pre-applications must be submitted by July 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Contact us for more information!

Rural Emergency Responders Initiative - USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development, through its community facilities program, provides funding for the Rural Emergency Responders Initiative to specifically strengthen the ability of rural communities to respond to local emergencies. The community facilities program funds are used to support rural emergency responder efforts by financing needed equipment and services. These funds are available to public bodies, non-profit organizations, and recognized Indian tribes.

Funds may be used to finance equipment, vehicles, and/or buildings for the following types of projects:

• Fire Protection
• Rescue/Ambulance
• Law Enforcement
• Civil Defense/Early Warning Systems
• Mobile/Stationary Communications
• Emergency Responders Training Facilities
• Hospitals
• Outpatient Care
• Physician’s Clinics
• Migrant Health Centers
• Healthcare Office Buildings
• County Health Department Offices
• Food Preparation Distribution Centers
• Animal Shelters

Rural Development, through its community facilities program, provides financial assistance to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. These facilities include schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation.
These funds are available to public bodies, non-profit organizations, and recognized Indian tribes.

Purchase or Construction includes:
- Jail
- Fire Trucks
- Fire Department Buildings
- Police Stations
- Multi Service Buildings FRPS
- Mobile Communications Center
- Civil Defense Buildings
- Rescue and Ambulance Service Buildings
- Rescue and Ambulance and Equipment
- Service Communications Centers
- Architectural & Engineering fees, right of way and easements

Contact us for more information!

Youth Arts & Culture Grants, Due May 8

The retention and community engagement of young people (14-25 years-old)
through arts and culture in Michigan.

Program Objectives: The NLACM want to support the following:
♦ Cool programs or projects young people are already working on to help make them “cooler”
♦ Ideas young people have about how to make their community cool
♦ Projects that use arts and culture to empower young people in Michigan
♦ Projects that involve the creative mentorship of young people

Requirements
♦ The program must be led by a young person or young people... 14-25 years-old
♦ The program must have a 1:1 match, cash or in-kind
♦ Project budget and budget itemization
♦ List of people involved with the project (include leadership and administrative positions, if possible)

Narrative (Questions to be answered in three pages or less)
♦ General: Project description, timeline, desired outcomes (impact on young people), evaluation(ways to determine success), budget
♦ How does this program promote youth empowerment?
♦ How will this program encourage young people to stay Michigan?
♦ How are young people mentored as part of this program?
♦ How are young people involved in the implementation, administration, and/or leadership of this program?

Eligibility
♦ Applicants must be a Michigan Non-profit 501c(3) or other tax exempt organization, proof of tax exempt status must accompany the grant application. Applications may be in partnership with youth based organizations or student groups
♦ Applications must be postmarked no later than May 8, 2010.
♦ The project must occur between June 1 and September 30, 2010.
♦ Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Complete guidelines

Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-Proposals Due 4/26

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing availability
of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from all 50 States. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2010 will be approximately $25 million. Applications are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration.

Funds will be awarded through a two-phase nationwide competitive grants process which will include a pre-proposal for all applications, and a full application package only for competitively selected pre-proposal applicants, pursuant to notification by NRCS.

Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities
For the purposes of CIG, the proposed innovative project or activity must encompass the development, field testing, evaluation, implementation, and monitoring of:
• Conservation adoption approaches or incentive systems, including market-based systems;
• Promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, or approaches; and
• Environmental soundness with goals of environmental protection and natural resource enhancement.
To be given priority consideration, the innovative project or activity:
• Makes use of a proven technology or a technology that has been studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
• Demonstrates and verifies environmental (soil, water, air, plants, energy use, and animal) effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of conservation technology in the field;
• Adapts conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
• Introduces conservation systems, approaches, and procedures from another geographic area or agricultural sector; and
• Adapts conservation technology, management, or incentive systems to improve performance.

Pre-proposals must be received at the NRCS National Headquarters by 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), on April 26, 2010.

Contact us for more information!

Rural Business Opportunity Grants, Pre-Review Deadline April 28

Rural Development has an active Notice of Funding Availability for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). Grant funds may be used to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing technical assistance for business development and economic development planning.

Eligible applicants: Local, State, or Federal government entities; nonprofit corporations; tribal entities; and cooperatives with members who are primarily rural residents and that conduct activities for the mutual benefit of the members.

Funding amounts: $7,480,000 total funds are allotted to this program in 2010, with a maximum of $250,000 available for each entity. No match required!

One-step process: Funding decisions are made on the basis of one round of applications, although Rural Development does offer a pre-review of applications if received by April 28.

Project examples: Grant funds may be used for, but are not limited to, the following purposes:

• Identify and analyze business opportunities that will use local rural materials or human resources. This includes opportunities in export markets, as well as feasibility and business plan studies.
• Identify, train, and provide technical assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers;
• Establish business support centers and otherwise assist in the creation of new rural businesses;
• Conduct local community or multi-county economic development planning;
• Establish centers for training, technology, and trade that will provide training to rural businesses in the utilization of interactive communications technologies to develop international trade opportunities and markets;
• Conduct leadership development training of existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; or
• Pay reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary to conduct the technical assistance, training, or planning functions.

Priorities:
Projects should be designed to help rural communities in the region create wealth so they are self-sustaining, repopulating and thriving economically, especially using any of the following USDA key strategies in sustainable ways:

1. Local and regional food systems as a strategy for encouraging production agriculture and related industries in new wealth creation;
2. Renewable energy generation, energy conservation, and/or climate change adaptation or mitigation as strategies for quality job creation;
3. Use of broadband and other critical infrastructure as a strategy to facilitate local entrepreneurship and expansion of market opportunities for small businesses;
4. Access to capital in rural areas as a strategy to ensure continuous business development and job creation/retention; and
5. Innovative utilization of natural resources as a strategy to expand business opportunities.

Key dates:
April 28, 2010: Optional pre-review deadline.
June 28, 2010: Final application due date.
September 15, 2010: Anticipated award date.

Contact us for more information!