A young Holland economic development firm helped six companies land federal grants for renewable energy capital projects that could total some $31 million in investments.
According to excerpts from the story:
Viability LLC, a Holland-based economic development consulting firm, reaped the result of a national focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy this year by helping clients throughout the Northeast secure $1.3 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program.
The USDA announced recently that it provided $62.5 million in REAP loans and grants in 2009 for 705 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 45 states, including 32 projects in Michigan. A REAP grant provides up to $250,000 for an energy efficiency project and $500,000 for a renewable energy project in designated rural areas. Viability assists companies to prepare and submit grant applications that promote sustainability.
"Businesses are seizing the opportunity to lower operational costs and reduce their environmental footprint through clean energy technologies," said Viability president Chris Byrnes. "Even though these energy projects pay for themselves in time, the grant helps overcome the initial capital investment that accompanies new technologies."
Read the complete story
here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.