Rbcs reap IRA tech assist grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business Cooperative Services awarded a $100,027 Project Grant under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, a nonprofit organization. The grant will support Ecology Action's delivery of technical assistance services to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to promote energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems development. This includes providing on-site sustainability assessments, employee training programs, implementation planning, performance measurement, and educational resource development. The grant has a performance period from September 28, 2023, to September 28, 2025. Additionally, Ecology Action has received prior federal grant awards from the USDA and Environmental Protection Agency to implement projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable materials management, pollution prevention, and disaster resilience in rural communities.