If you're a business that has wanted to get solar panels, but the large project costs have made it feel like solar products are out of reach, then you're in luck! The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a unique grant and loan program just for you. It's a program called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and it's been helping all kinds of businesses get affordable, easy access to renewable systems like solar panels.

Weddle and Sons has been in the roofing business for decades, we've installed dozens of solar panel systems for our clients, and we have helped businesses navigate the REAP grant and loan process, including developing projects that meet REAP guidelines, writing grants for REAP, providing expert application assistance, and successfully winning REAP grants for our clients.

We know that the REAP application process is technical, complicated, and challenging (and it's one of the reasons we offer free REAP granting writing services), which is why we wanted to create a resource to help small businesses understand the key factors needed for a successful REAP application.

We've talked at length on our website about what the REAP program is and the specific benefits that it offers. In this article, we'll talk specifically about how to apply for the REAP program, including:

What to prepare before you apply at all.
Specific forms you'll need and why.
What kind of application assistance is available.

Let's get started!

Before You Apply For REAP

Before you even look at an application, there's quite a bit of legwork you need to do.

Check REAP Eligibility

First, you need to make sure that your business is eligible for REAP at all. There are two major categories of businesses that can apply:

A business that produces agricultural products (specifically, at least 50% of your gross income needs to come from agricultural operations).
A small business located in (or a business that operates in) a defined rural area.

You can check if you're in an eligible rural area on the USDA website.

Contact Your Local USDA Rural Development Coordinator

Each state has a USDA rural coordinator that can provide answers to any questions about REAP you may have. Even if you don't have questions, you need to make contact with your local USDA coordinator before you start your application.

Your director can provide valuable insight into the application process, and they can tell you what their priorities are, which will help your application score higher. It's a good idea to form a solid relationship with them, so reach out with initial questions or for guidance on applying in your specific state.

Get Your SAM Number and Unique Entity ID

In order to apply, you need to have a System for Award Management (SAM) number and a Unique Entity ID. Getting the number is free, but as with all things government, it can take time for registration to complete and for your business to get their SAM number. You should register as soon as possible to make sure you don't miss application deadlines.

Both the SAM number and the Unique Entity ID can be registered at sam.gov. If you'd like a walkthrough of how to register, you can view a walkthrough video here.

Choose Your Solar Panel Installer

Part of the application requirements is knowing how much your total project cost will be. Part of getting the most points on your application is showing that you have matching funds to complete your solar panel project. For example, the maximum grant amount any business can receive is 50% of the project cost, so you should be able to show your matching funds.

Of course, you can't know the project cost if you haven't connected with a contractor to hash out project details (and the USDA isn't going to accept your best guess). The installer you choose is going to have a significant impact on your application (which we'll talk about more in the next section).

We recommend choosing a contractor that has a history of high-quality work, is well-reviewed online, and has experience developing projects for the REAP program. If you aren't sure where to start, reach out to us! Weddle and Sons is an experienced solar panel installer, and we have had success winning REAP grants for customers.

Get an Energy Audit and/or Energy Assessment

Once you choose a solar panel installer, you need to get an energy audit or energy assessment. Part of the REAP application process is demonstrating how much power you use and how much power the solar panels will save you. Typically, your solar panel installer will provide the assessment for you, but in the event that they don't, you'll need to have a third-party provide one.

Applying for REAP Grants and Loans

Once you have:

Confirmed your eligibility
Contacted the USDA coordinator
Chosen a solar panel installer with a project quote
Have a completed energy assessment or audit

It's time to actually apply! There are several forms to fill out, and if you want a walkthrough, the USDA has a published video series detailing what parts of which forms need to be filled out and with what information. If you are unfamiliar with REAP, we strongly recommend watching this series of videos as you complete your application.

Keep in mind, you won't need to fill out all the forms you find online. Here are some key forms to keep in mind:

Form 4280-38: This form is for projects that are $80,000 or less. You can find specific instructions on how to complete this form here.
Form RD 4280-3B: This form is for projects that cost between $80,000 and $200,000. Instructions for this form can be found here.
Form RD 4280-3C: This form is for projects that cost more than $200,000. Instructions for this form can be found here.

Other Forms

There are other forms that you need to complete in order to submit your application. If you aren't sure which forms apply to you, we encourage you to reach out to your local USDA coordinator, and they can confirm the specific forms you need to complete.

For quick reference, other forms for you to consider include:

How to Submit Your Application

While it's possible to submit your application via grants.gov, you can also submit an application directly to your local USDA office. Since you need to have connected with your coordinator anyway, we recommend submitting to their office.

REAP Grant Writing Services

Filling out the paperwork for REAP is time-intensive, and it's crucial that you fill out the grant correctly the first time you apply. First time applicants get a bit of a boost on their scored application, so filling out the application correctly (along with an ideal project) is a great way to get the amount of grants and loans you need. Of course, writing a grant isn't exactly easy, which is why grant writing services exist.

There are multiple organizations that provide grant writing services, but not all of them are created equal. Since you're going to have to pay them for their help, you need to make sure they're worth working with. Make sure you take time to research:

How long they've been writing grants
If their cost makes sense for the cost of your project (low-cost project and a high-cost grant writing service may not make financial sense)
What public reviews they have

Also, if you come across a grant writing service that guarantees you success, this is a huge red flag. No grant writing service can guarantee any measure of success, so guarantees of funding should prompt you to consider other avenues of assistance.

Weddle and Sons: Solar Installation and REAP Assistance

Finding a solar installer you can trust, along with finding grant writing assistance, in addition to communicating with your local USDA coordinator can be quite the feat, but what if we told you there was a way to make applying for REAP easy? Weddle and Sons offers a one-stop-shop for businesses looking to leverage REAP funding for solar panels by providing:

Solar panel project consultation, including energy audits and assessments, and accurate project quotes.
REAP grant writing services, which are provided without additional charge.
REAP consultation, including telling you exactly what information we need in order to complete required forms.
Expert, trusted solar panel installation, backed by 25+ years of roofing experience.

Curious what customers have experienced with us? Take a look at the testimonial below:

Interested in partnering with us? We'd love to show you how easy it is to get a business-changing solar power system. You can fill out our online form, and we'll be in touch to create a plan that's perfect for your needs. We look forward to hearing from you!

Celebrating 25 years, Weddle and Sons, Inc. is a family-owned roofing company that has served our midwest communities since 1999. With an emphasis on integrity and our customer-centric approach, we’ve developed a trusted brand that has become synonymous with quality and dependability. We look forward to continuing our work to Build Better Lives in the communities we serve and in the lives of our employees.

How to Apply for REAP Grants and Loans