Screening for the “Best” Applicants

USDA-REAP is a competitive grant program where your application will be scored and compared to other application scores. Thinking beyond basic eligibility requirements, if you are thinking strategically about what kind of projects might have the highest likelihood of being funded, here are some key points that impact project scores to consider:

Recommended to shoot for max score:
(These three areas make the biggest difference)

  • Generation/Usage ratio is between 50-100% AND 12 consecutive months of recent bills are available

  • Total project costs / first year utility savings < 10 years, otherwise 15 years, 25 years (lose 5 pts at each threshold)

  • Project address is in a distressed/disadvantaged community: —DistressedMap.com—

Distressed Community Map

Required:

(all eligible projects are achieving these)

  • Construction not started

  • 100% of project costs proven available through cash or loan

  • If meter is shared by a residence, you MUST prove >50% of usage is for the business only through 12 months of historical utility bills and an online residential energy calculator.

Highly recommended:
(most eligible projects are achieving these)

  • First time applicants (points lost for second-time)

  • No major payments made (payments made before application will reduce eligible grant request)

Possible (but not guaranteed, and even downright unlikely) extra points:

  • >20% veteran-owned

  • >50% woman- or minority-owned