Information on programs and application requirements to be explained
                                                                                                                                               
(January 29, 2013 Albuquerque, NM) USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner announced today that during the next few weeks, USDA Rural Development will host free trainings on obtaining loan guarantees and grants for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects.
 
In making the announcement, Brunner said, “We are hosting these trainings because we want to make sure agricultural producers and rural small businesses know how to apply for this financial support, which will make their businesses more energy efficient and more competitive.”
 
Brunner added,  “In the past few years we have helped applicants replace inefficient equipment with electric and solar well pumps, new lighting fixtures, better insulation, new heat pumps and to provide a wide variety of types and sizes of solar systems in Tyrone, Belen, Roswell, Las Vegas, Raton, Santa Fe County, Placitas, Deming and other locations around the State.  We hope to help even more this year.”
The financing program administered by USDAS Rural Development is called Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The REAP program offers grants and loan guarantees to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses (no residences) to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Grant funds are also available for renewable energy feasibility studies.
 
Renewable energy systems include biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen-based projects and anaerobic digesters. Energy efficiency projects include changing out inefficient pumps, insulation, roofing, lighting, heating and cooling systems, etc. for more efficient ones.
 
Each workshop covers the same information except for the application workshop in Albuquerque, where staff will give step by step details on the REAP application.  Although attendance is free, an RSVP is appreciated so plans can be made for adequate seating and handouts. Also, if you RSVP and there is a cancellation due to weather you will be called and notified of the postponement.
 
To RSVP or to get more information on the trainings please contact Jesse Monfort Bopp, USDA Rural Development at 505.761.4952 or jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov .  For more information on these and all USDA Rural Development business and cooperative programs, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs.
 
 
Workshops will be held in the following communities (other trainings are being planned; please contact Jesse for dates):
 
Monday, February 4, 2013
Albuquerque, 9:30-11:30am
1st Floor Conference Room
USDA-Rural Development-State Office
6200 Jefferson NE
Albuquerque, NM  87109
 
Monday, February 4, 2013
Santa Fe, 1:30-3:30pm
Porter Hall (1st Floor), Wendell Chino Bldg
1220 South St. Francis Dr.
Santa Fe, NM  87505
 
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Las Cruces, 10:00 AM – Noon
John Curry Complex
2507 N. Telshor
Las Cruces, NM  88011
 
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Truth or Consequences, 1-3pm
Civic Center
400 West 4th St
Truth or Consequences, NM  87901
 
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Taos, 1:30-3:30pm
Taos County Economic Development Corp.
1021 Salazar Rd
Taos, NM  87571
 
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Farmington, 2-4pm
(in conjunction with an NMMEP grant workshop)
San Juan College
Quality Center for Business
5101 College Blvd
Farmington, NM  87402
 
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Lordsburg, 1-3pm
Civic Center
313 E. 4th St
Lordsburg, NM  88045