Bangor, April 4, 2024 – USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson today announced that her office is hiring a Grants Management Specialist to serve as a Climate Change Fellow. The new position will help process the record number of applications from farmers and rural small businesses seeking funding for clean energy projects under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The position is one of 40 USDA Climate Change Fellowships recently created nationwide.
“With historic funding through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), we are making more renewable energy projects happen here in Maine than ever before,” State Director Rhiannon Hampson said. “These innovative solutions to meet our climate goals and our shared energy needs also help to grow rural businesses at the same time. The Climate Change Fellowship will be an exciting role for someone who wants to boost Maine farms and businesses economically while also helping reduce our collective carbon footprint.”
Through REAP, USDA provides grants and loans to help ag producers and rural small businesses use wind, solar, or other forms of clean energy or to make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them lower energy costs, increase their income, grow their businesses, and address climate change. During fiscal year 2023, USDA invested more than $20M in Maine through REAP. Grant awards ranged from $7800 to $1M across fourteen counties. Last week the first 2024 Maine grants were announced, with more than $2M awarded to seventeen recipients. (Additional 2024 announcements are pending.)
Demand for REAP grants continues to increase as more Maine businesses seek clean energy solutions and financial savings. USDA launched the Climate Change Fellows Program to help states manage the increased interest in the program. Fellows carry out USDA’s activities to address climate change, find solutions to agricultural challenges, and enhance economic growth for farmers and small businesses. Maine’s Climate Change Fellow will interact with stakeholders, attend outreach events, process applications, manage data, and conduct site visits and inspections, among other tasks.
Maine’s REAP program is based at the State Office in Bangor. Fellows are expected to serve an initial term of up to two years. The position is classified as a Grants Management Specialist. USDA accepts digital applications only using the USA Jobs portal online. To learn about required qualifications, salary, and other details and to apply for the position, read the USA Jobs posting: www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/784772700. The position may close once 300 applications have been received for the eight positions currently open in multiple states. Otherwise, applications will be accepted through April 10, 2024.
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