Wednesday, March 15, 2006

[Grants] Illinois Rain Garden Initiative The Illinois Lt. Governor’s Office in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering $500 grants for public organizations and schools that are interested in planting a rain garden within their local community.  The benefits of rain gardens extend beyond flood protection by providing educators with a valuable tool that can be used to teach science, history and math classes. To apply for a rain garden grant, contact:  Sodiqa Williams, Policy Assistant, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, Sodiqa_Williams@Ltgov.state.il.us or 312/814-5220. 11:42:21 AM Google It!    [Energy efficiency] USDA Funds Available for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the availability of $176.5 million in loan guarantees and almost $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses. Johanns also noted Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman's announcement of $160 million in cost-shared funding over three years to construct up to three bio-refineries in the United States. The energy grant and loan funds were authorized under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill to encourage agricultural producers and small rural businesses to create renewable and energy efficient systems. Renewable energy grants can be used to fund a wide range of wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal, anaerobic digester and conservation technologies. Grants also can fund such things as more energy efficient lighting, refrigeration, furnaces, grain driers and milk coolers. The program has three funding components:  grants for renewable energy systems, grants for energy efficiency, and loan guarantees for both types of projects.  The minimum grant request for renewable energy systems is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy efficiency improvements, the minimum grant request is $1,500 and the maximum is $250,000. Rural development energy grants cannot exceed 25 percent of the eligible program costs. The maximum amount of a loan guarantee made to a borrower is $10 million and cannot exceed 50 percent of the project cost.  A federal loan guarantee greatly increases the borrowers' chances of securing financing from lenders who might otherwise be reluctant to invest in emerging technologies for renewable energy. Illinois applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the Rural Development state office and postmarked no later than May 12, 2006. Guaranteed loans will be awarded on a continuous basis. Applications should be submitted to the Illinois state office for consideration by June 15, 2006. Any guaranteed loan funds not obligated by August 1, 2006, will be made available for competitive grants. For more information contact Patrick Lydic in the Illinois state office at 217.403.6211 or by email at Patrick.Lydic@il.usda.gov. 11:35:52 AM Google It!

© Copyright 2006 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 4/6/2006; 2:55:00 PM.