How to apply for REAP grants and loans

By Eric Weddle · 8 min read

If you are 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 are in luck. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a unique grant and loan program just for you. It is called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and it has been helping all kinds of businesses get affordable, easy access to renewable systems like solar panels.

Weddle & Sons has been in the roofing business for decades, we have 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 the REAP application process is technical, complicated, and challenging, which is one of the reasons we offer free REAP grant writing services. In this article we will walk through how to apply, including what to prepare before you apply at all, the specific forms you will need and why, and what kind of application assistance is available.

Before you apply for REAP

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

Check REAP eligibility

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

• A business that produces agricultural products, where at least 50% of your gross income comes from agricultural operations
• A small business located in, or operating in, a defined rural area

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

Contact your local USDA Rural Development coordinator

Each state has a USDA rural coordinator who can answer questions about REAP. Even if you do not have questions, you need to make contact with your local USDA coordinator before you start your application. Your coordinator can provide valuable insight into the process and tell you what their priorities are, which will help your application score higher. Form a solid relationship with them early.

Get your SAM number and Unique Entity ID

In order to apply, you need 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. Register as soon as possible so you do not miss application deadlines. Both can be registered at sam.gov.

Choose your solar panel installer

Part of the application requirements is knowing how much your total project cost will be, and part of getting the most points on your application is showing that you have matching funds to complete your solar panel project. 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 cannot know the project cost if you have not connected with a contractor to hash out project details, and the USDA is not going to accept your best guess. We recommend choosing a contractor with a history of high-quality work, strong online reviews, and experience developing projects for the REAP program. Weddle & 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 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 if they do not, you will need a third party to 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, and completed an energy assessment or audit, it is time to actually apply. The USDA has a published video series detailing which parts of which forms need to be filled out, and if you are unfamiliar with REAP we strongly recommend watching it as you complete your application.

You will not need to fill out all the forms you find online. Here are the key forms to keep in mind:

• Form 4280-3A: for projects that are $80,000 or less
• Form RD 4280-3B: for projects that cost between $80,000 and $200,000
• Form RD 4280-3C: for projects that cost more than $200,000

Other forms

There are other forms you may need to complete in order to submit your application. If you are not sure which apply to you, reach out to your local USDA coordinator and they can confirm the specifics. For quick reference, other forms to consider include:

• Application for Federal Assistance, Form SF-424
• Budget Information, Construction Programs, Form 424-C
• Assurances, Construction Programs, Form 424-D
• Request for Environmental Information, Environmental Checklist
• Renewable Energy Systems Vendor Certification
• Energy Efficiency Improvement Vendor Certification

How to submit your application

While it is possible to submit your application via grants.gov, you can also submit 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 is 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 it out correctly, along with an ideal project, is a great way to get the grants and loans you need.

There are multiple organizations that provide grant writing services, but not all of them are created equal. Since you are going to pay them for their help, research how long they have been writing grants, whether their cost makes sense for the cost of your project, and what public reviews they have.

Also, if you come across a grant writing service that guarantees you success, that 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 & Sons: solar installation and REAP assistance

Finding a solar installer you can trust, along with grant writing assistance, in addition to communicating with your local USDA coordinator can be quite the feat. But what if there was a way to make applying for REAP easy? Weddle & 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, assessments, and accurate project quotes
• REAP grant writing services, provided without additional charge
• REAP consultation, including telling you exactly what information we need to complete required forms
• Expert, trusted solar panel installation, backed by 25+ years of roofing experience

Interested in partnering with us? We would love to show you how easy it is to get a business-changing solar power system. Fill out our contact form and we will be in touch to create a plan that is perfect for your needs.