Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program | RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP

Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP

The Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program is a USDA Rural Development opportunity run through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). For fiscal year 2024, the agency is funding organizations that can help rural applicants successfully pursue REAP energy funding. The core purpose is not to pay for renewable energy systems directly, but to pay qualified intermediaries to provide hands-on technical assistance to two main groups seeking REAP support: agricultural producers and rural small businesses. In practice, this means the TAG program is meant to strengthen the pipeline and quality of REAP applications by funding experts who can guide prospective applicants through the process and improve the readiness of projects.

For FY 2024, USDA is making $16,000,000 available for this program, using funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The funding instrument is a mandatory grant, and the opportunity is published under Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP. USDA anticipates making about 200 awards, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per grant. As with most federal opportunities, applicants should plan on covering their own costs to prepare and submit an application, because the notice specifies that application development expenses are the applicant's responsibility.

The technical assistance funded through TAG is aimed at helping REAP applicants develop strong submissions, which can include clarifying eligibility, shaping project scope, assembling required documentation, completing application forms, and improving the completeness and competitiveness of proposals. The program is specifically oriented toward supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that REAP funds, so the assistance is expected to be closely tied to those project types and to the requirements of REAP grants and guaranteed loans.

USDA highlights several priority areas that can affect how applications are evaluated. Priority is given to proposals that focus on assisting agricultural producers and Tribal entities, since those groups are often central to rural energy transitions but may face capacity constraints when applying for federal funding. Additional preference is given to assistance that supports projects located in a Disadvantaged Community or a Distressed Community, reflecting a goal of directing benefits to places with higher economic burdens or historic underinvestment. The notice also emphasizes supporting projects that use Underutilized Renewable Energy Technologies, signaling that USDA wants technical assistance providers to help expand the use of less commonly deployed renewable options, not just the most mainstream technologies. Finally, USDA indicates a priority for support tied to smaller REAP grant requests, specifically applications of $20,000 or less, which suggests an effort to help smaller operators and businesses that may lack staff or grant-writing resources and may be pursuing smaller, more accessible project sizes.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of public and private entities that are positioned to deliver technical assistance at scale. The eligible applicant categories listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). The listing also includes an "Others" category, and the opportunity text notes that cooperatives and public power entities may be eligible, with the instruction to see the full notice for additional eligibility details and any specific conditions or limitations.

In terms of timing and administrative details, the opportunity was created on February 20, 2024, and the original application closing date is March 21, 2024. The program is associated with CFDA number 10.868 and is categorized under Agriculture, Business and Commerce, and Energy, which reflects its cross-cutting purpose: helping rural businesses and producers reduce energy costs, improve efficiency, and adopt renewable energy through successful participation in REAP.

• The Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: