CARSON CITY, Nev., Dec. 12, 2023—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad today announced that USDA is awarding $100,000 to American Institute of Building Science (AIOBS) through the Rural Energy for America Program Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG). As a REAP TAG recipient, AIOBS will identify and provide technical assistance to qualified rural small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for REAP funding, with a focus on retrofitting commercial buildings to become more energy efficient.
“The Biden-Harris Administration understands that supporting the sustainability and climate resiliency of communities in rural Nevada requires investing in rural infrastructure,” said Ingvoldstad. “This project, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, is an excellent illustration of that dedication, with AIOBS helping rural Nevadans to identify and finance sustainable improvements to buildings crucial to their communities, such as hospitals and senior care centers. We will continue to support rural small businesses and agricultural producers through our funding opportunities, improving our rural economy and empowering our rural innovators.”
This Rural Development investment will support the retrofitting of commercial buildings for energy efficiency in rural Nevadan communities by AIOBS, a veteran-owned building science training provider. The retrofitting will be targeted towards businesses providing important services to disadvantaged Nevadans. This will enable rural Nevadan businesses to operate more sustainably both in terms of environmental impact as well as monetarily.
The purpose of the REAP TAG program is to enable applicants to provide technical assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses applying to REAP, with priority for applicants assisting distressed or disadvantaged communities or using underutilized technologies or seeking grants under $20,000. To learn more, please visit the program page online: Rural Energy for America Program Technical Assistance Grant.
To learn more about investment resources for rural Nevada, visit www.rd.usda.gov/nv or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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