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USDA Rural Development Program Summary

Which USDA Rural Development programs could support for your clean energy goals?

USDA Rural Development offers an array of programs to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural Minnesota. A new Program Summary guide offers an overview of all programs—it’s a must-read resource for learning about how your goals and projects could be supported.

What exactly does USDA Rural Development do in Minnesota?

  • Offer loans, grants and loan guarantees to support essential services such as housing, economic development, health care, first responder services and equipment, and water, electric and communications infrastructure.
  • Promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks, credit unions and community-managed lending pools.
  • Offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural producers and cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their operations.
  • Provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.
  • Help rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing and make health and safety repairs to their homes.

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You can peruse the guide below or download it here to dig into the details.

Visit USDA Rural Development’s website to learn more >>

USDA NRCS EQIP applications due August 19th

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps farmers evaluate energy saving opportunities and provides financial assistance to help make energy upgrades happen. EQIP requires an audit first, which the program pays for most, if not all, of it. After the audit, you can apply for financial assistance for any recommendations in the audit.

  • Get an application in to receive a 100% cost-covered, comprehensive energy audit of your barn operations. If you already have an audit under your belt, see if it is eligible for moving forward to get some of your audit’s recommendations cost-shared by NRCS EQIP.
  • Stop by your local USDA office to work on an application—the field office staff are always willing to get through the paperwork with you! EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis with application cut-off dates, the closest of which is August 19, 2016.
Get Answers blog series The Get Answers series on the Energy Stories Blog offers useful tips from CERTs and our partners to help you get to the bottom of your energy efficiency and renewable energy questions. Click here to see more stories in the series >>

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