Rural Business-Cooperative Service · Department of Agriculture
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program
In short: Rural Business-Cooperative Service expects to make 1,000 awards of $1,500 to $500,000. Open to small business or tribal organization.
Key facts
- Deadline
- No deadline listed: see the official notice
The funder says: “REAP Applications are accepted year-round. For applicants requesting grants of $20,000 or less, that wish to have their application compete for the "Grants of $20,000 or less set aside", complete applications must be...” - Award size
- $1,500 – $500K
- Total available
- $35.4M · about 1000 awards
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Small business, Tribal organization, and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Knox County (nationwide program)
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 27
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program.
Refer to Application Package AND Application Instruction links to obtain all necessary forms for a complete application.
Contact State Energy Coordinators with questions: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf
Who can apply, from the official notice
Agricultural Producers
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/806174a5-61cf-4bcb-946b-e6cd65b52726 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/81f505f9-32e8-4b74-bebb-449df5e2b115
Writing the need statement? Knox County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice reap_nosa_2016-october_6_2015.pdf (7 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Award size and project length
Award amounts here are for the whole project · p. 4
“(a) Grant applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects with total project costs of $80,000 or less must provide information required by 7 CFR 4280.119.” Open page 4
Registrations you need first (2)
Grants.gov · p. 3
“In addition, for grant applications, applicants may obtain electronic grant applications for REAP from http:// www.Grants.gov.” Open page 3
SAM.gov · p. 4
“System for Award Management (SAM) and Dun and Bradstreet Universal Number System (DUNS) Number.” Open page 4
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Environmental documentation · p. 5
“For the Agency to consider an application, the application must include all environmental review documents with supporting documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G.” Open page 5
Dates in the notice
February 7, 2014 · p. 2
“This Notice announces the deadline times and dates to submit applications for the REAP funds provided by the Agricultural Act of 2014, on February 7, 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), for fiscal year 2016 for grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed…” Open page 2
November 2, 2015 · p. 4
“(i) 4:30 p.m. local time on November 2, 2015, or (ii) 4:30 p.m. local time on May 2, (b) For applicants requesting grant funds of over $20,000 (unrestricted) or funding for a combination grant and guaranteed loan, complete applications must be received no…” Open page 4
February 1, 2016 · p. 4
“Complete applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on February 1, 2016.” Open page 4
Files from the official listing
The notice, forms and templates the agency attached.
- reap_nosa_2016-october_6_2015.pdf (219 KB)
REAP FY2016 NOSA
Who in Tennessee has won this program
26 awards to Tennessee groups in 18 counties since 2023 · 0 in Knox County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spitfire LLC | Germantown, Shelby County | $1M | 2024 |
| Clark Hardwoods, LLC | Erin, Houston County | $990K | 2025 |
| Ssm Industries, Inc | Spring City, Bledsoe County | $984K | 2024 |
| Liberty Hill Farms, LLC | Somerville, Fayette County | $978K | 2024 |
| Novamet Specialty Products Corporation | Lebanon, Smith County | $908K | 2025 |
| Cold Steppe, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | $654K | 2025 |
| Yarbro Farms | Martin, Weakley County | $536K | 2024 |
| Cumberland Container Corporation | Monterey, Cumberland County | $500K | 2024 |
| Advanced Tool & Machine, LLC | Morristown, Hamblen County | $490K | 2024 |
| Pulliam Trucking and Farm, LLC | Somerville, Fayette County | $476K | 2024 |
| Ronnie Yeargin | Greenfield, Weakley County | $442K | 2025 |
| Jenny Farm LLC | Bradford, Gibson County | $336K | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 1 pass-through grant on file · 0 in Knox County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner Community Capital, Inc. | Charles Town | West Virginia Office of Energy | $42K spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
Similar grants open or opening soon
From other funders, about the same kind of work in Knox County.
- Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program · Rural Utilities Service · Due today (Oct 9, 2026)
More from Rural Business-Cooperative Service
- MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish · Due Dec 7, 2026 · 59 days left
- Agriculture Innovation Center Grant Program · Due Jan 31, 2027 · 114 days left
- Value-Added Producer Grant · Next round: about Feb 17 – Apr 22, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program · No deadline listed: see the official notice
About the federal program
Rural Energy for America Program, also called “REAP”
Program number 10.868 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Business Cooperative Service · Loan guarantee or grant
How applications are judged
(1) Quantity of Energy Replaced, Produced, or Saved
(2) Environmental benefits
(3) Commercial availability
(4) Technical Merit �
(5) Readiness (Grants only)
(6) Small Agricultural Producer/Very Small Rural Business
(7) Simplified application
(8) Previous grantees and borrowers
(9) Simple payback
(10) State Director and Administrator priorities and points.
(11) Loan Rate (Guaranteed Loans only:
Match
Matching Requirements: For Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement assistance: The applicant must provide at least 75 percent of leveraged funds if the request is for grant only funds.
For a combination grant and loan guarantee and loan guarantee only, the applicant must provide at least 25 percent of leveraged funds. Other Federal grants may not be used to meet the 75 percent requirement for the grant.
For Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance: The recipient of the energy audit must pay at least 25% of the cost of the audit.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: This Rural Development investment will be used for the purchase, replacement, and installation of energy efficient cooler and freezer for a meat processing cooperative. This project is expected to save $5,486.55per year. It will replace 50,922 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough energy to power 5 homes.
This Rural Development investment will be used to help beef cattle producer to install more energy-efficient electric pivot irrigation. The improvements are expected to save the business $2,900 in electrical costs per year and replace 35,300 kilowatt hours (85 percent of the business energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power three homes.