“REAP-ing What You Sow,” Plants Seeds for Local Businesses

Maui Economic Development Board’s recent workshop, “Rural Energy for America Program: REAP-ing What You Sow,” drew a packed audience.

Led by State Energy Coordinator, John Antonio and Business Programs Director for USDA Rural Development, Denise Oda, attendees received valuable information about the Rural Energy for America Program during the July 27th event.

“A small business owner who wants to save money on energy should take advantage of REAP,” encouraged workshop speaker John Antonio, USDA State Energy Coordinator. Deadlines for those qualified is Oct. 31, 2016.

Under the state program; farmers, ranchers, or small business owners interested in saving money on their energy bills or implementing energy efficient and renewable energy improvements, may be eligible to receive guaranteed loans, grants, or a combination of the two for qualified projects.

For businesses interested in being considered for the REAP program, the application deadline for the 2016 funding period is Oct. 31. The USDA urges businesses not to wait until the last minute to apply.

Those who are eligible to apply include agricultural producers (individuals or entities) that receive 50% or more of their income from production of agricultural products, either rural or urban. Also rural small businesses; for-profit small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration and must be located in a rural area (less than 50,000 population).

Workshop attendees took advantage of one-on-one consultations with USDA representatives (Denise Oda pictured) about their specific projects.

Eligible projects include:

– Energy efficiency: lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, fans, automated controls and insulation.
– Renewable energy: solar, wind, small hydroelectric, anaerobic digesters, biomass, geothermal and wave/ocean power.

Eligible project costs are:

– Equipment – purchase and installation, new or refurbished
– Post-application construction and facility improvements
– Retrofitting
– Professional service fees
– Permits and license fees
– Working capital, land acquisition (guarantee loan only with restrictions)

REAP grant assistance covers up to 25% of eligible project costs.

For renewable energy systems, a minimum grant request is $2,500 for total eligible project costs that are more than $10,000; and a maximum of $500,000 for costs that are more than $2 million.

For energy efficiency improvements, a minimum grant request is $1,500 for total eligible project costs of more than $10,000; and a maximum of $250,000 for costs that are more than $1 million.

For REAP guaranteed loan assistance, a minimum loan amount is $5,000 for eligible project costs over $6,667 and a maximum of $25 million for costs over $33.4 million. REAP loan and grant combinations are also available.

“My company specializes in energy efficiency projects and we’re always looking for financing opportunities for our clients,” said Glenn Yamasaki, President of No Ka Oi Energy, LLC. “The information I learned today will definitely be helpful as I was not aware of the grants offered by the USDA REAP program.”

“I’m here to see if there might be funding opportunities for our agrihood project, Hoku Nui Maui in Piiholo,” said Gregory Raab. “This farm-residential community, which includes affordable housing, is all off-grid and we’re looking into developing photo voltaic and other alternative energy sources.”

Attendees are encouraged to look into ways they could improve energy use for their own business and/or their clients’ businesses.

The REAP workshop also motivated them to look into other federal and state grant programs.

“It is critically important that Maui businesses be aware and take advantage of Federal, State and County cost saving programs that are available to them,” said Gerry Smith, Director of Business Development at MEDB.

“We’re always looking for ways to assist businesses and a great way to do that is by bringing in the people who run those programs to share that knowledge with our local community.”

The REAP workshop was part of MEDB’s Innovation Series, a grassroots effort to help small businesses establish strong systems, processes, tools, and best practices to build a solid foundation for success.

Event sponsors were the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.

For more information on the REAP program, contact:

John Antonio at [email protected], visit the Maui County Business Resource Center at the Maui Mall in Kahului, or the Small Business Development Center.

For information on future MEDB business assistance workshop, email [email protected].