Last week, U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA is investing $285 million in critical infrastructure to lower energy costs, expand access to clean energy for people across rural America, and combat climate change. USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield said about 130 of the grant recipients are based here in Iowa.
The USDA was looking for small, rural businesses or producers in the renewable energy industry to invest in. Greenfield said they were also targeting areas that needed that funding for development.
Many farms already engage in climate-smart practices, and Greenfield said they want to use these grants to encourage even more producers and businesses to join in.
The USDA also announced that it will make $300 million available under the Rural Energy for America Program to expand renewable energy and support energy-efficiency projects for people living in rural America. Greenfield said this is part of how the USDA will continue to increase their investment into climate-smart agriculture.
The deadline to apply for grants is March 31, 2023. Applications for technical assistance grants are due Jan. 31, 2023. Applications for loan guarantees are accepted year-round. Greenfield said that producers and businesses who are interested can apply to offices around the state.
For more information, visit usda.gov.
