USDA Invests $3.7 Million in New Hampshire, Vermont Small Business Energy Projects
Biden-Harris Administration Continues Commitment to Flood Recovery While Lowering Costs and Creating Jobs in Twin States
Vermont Business Magazine Sarah Waring, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development (RD) in Vermont and New Hampshire today announced that the Agency:
- Selected Cabot, Vermont, for flood-relief funding through the Community Facilities Disaster Grants Program (CF), and
- Invested $3,758,883 in 16 Twin State small businesses through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Each state will get nearly $2 million (see awards below).
Congress updated the CF Disaster Grants Program in March 2024, creating a $36 million funding pool that will benefit 15 projects in ten states and Puerto Rico. In Cabot, funds will be used to construct a new public safety facility following the 2023 July flood, which will house all emergency service operations for the town, including fire and EMS.
The REAP investments are part of a $126 million national funding round that will support 654 clean energy projects in 39 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. Waring also announced an additional $600 million in REAP funds that farmers and small businesses can apply for by March 31, 2025.
"Today's announcements of disaster relief for Cabot, and climate-smart, bottom-line solutions for small businesses throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, show the varied impacts this Agency can have on the safety and economic vitality of our rural communities," said Waring. "Helping to make the lives of our neighbors more secure, and the efforts of our farmers, producers and business owners more rewarding, are missions my staff and I are proud to carry out. Once again, the Biden-Harris Administration is exemplifying its stated objective to create more resilient rural communities by putting federal funds directly in the hands of hard-working people who've consistently shown their eagerness and ability to rebuild from the inside out and bottom up."
Community Facilities Disaster Assistance Background
Due to severe flooding of the Winooski River in July 2023 and subsequent weather events, the Cabot Fire Department building became unstable and unsafe to occupy, forcing town officials to temporarily relocate vehicles and equipment. The Community Facilities Program received supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
| NH | |
| Project | Grant |
| Bright Spot Solar LLC | $50,000 |
| Warrenstreet Architects Inc. | $74,308 |
| Franconia Main Street Properties LLC | $23,673 |
| 5R Properties LLC | $117,368 |
| Lightning T. Farms LLC | $27,140 |
| Haunting Whisper LLC | $32,373 |
| CIS Keene LLC | $61,732 |
| GB Investment Holdings Inc. | $255,023 |
| Madko Energy LLC | $247,500 |
| Cochran Mills LLC | $516,500 |
| Lighthouse Equity Partners LLC | $169,678 |
| Calef's Since 1869 LLC | $70,000 |
| Exeter Rent-All LLC | $164,457 |
| $1,809,752 | |
| Vermont | |
| Vermont Renewable Gas LLC | $1,000,000 |
| Essex Resort Holdings LLC | $894,206 |
| Snow Farm Winery LLC | $54,925 |
| $1,949,131 |
REAP Background
Through REAP, USDA partners with agricultural producers and small businesses to lower business costs through clean energy and energy efficiency systems. Nationally, USDA has invested more than $2.4 billion in approximately 8,500 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements since President Biden took office. This includes more than 3,000 clean energy projects totaling more than $800 million which were made possible because of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
As part of today’s announcement, USDA will make available an additional $600 million across three funding rounds from now until 2027. During each funding round, the Department expects to make available $180 million in general REAP funding and $20 million in set-aside funding for underutilized renewable energy technology. These funds are made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act and will be the final REAP funding availability from this legislative package.
USDA is accepting applications in this first round through two windows. The deadlines to apply are Dec. 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025. For additional information about the REAP funding availability, see page 83449 of the Oct. 16 Federal Register.
To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Source: MONTPELIER, Vt., Oct. 18, 2024 –U.S. Department of Agriculture
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