Renewable energy grant-writing workshop slated

Local grant-writers have an opportunity to bone up on a federal program to help pay for renewable energy projects in a workshop in Havre Nov. 16.

Butte's National Center on Appropriate Technology is hosting "Tapping Clean Energy for Rural Montana's Future," a workshop to teach grant writers about the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.

REAP provides grants and loans for agricultural or small business renewable energy projects and for improved energy-efficieny projects.

The workshop is scheduled to run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Center at Montana State University-Northern. It is planned to be repeated after the holidays in Billings.

The workshop will train participants in:

• A better understanding of utility, state and federal rebate, loan and grant programs for energy efficiency and renewable energy development.

• A better understanding of the complexity of the REAP's and other programs' applications, including energy audit or assessment requirements.

• Educational and sample materials for use with REAP and other applications. Basic training in grant-writing and packaging these applications.

• The opportunity to cultivate grant writing jobs, and start a network of grant writers serving farmers, ranchers and small business owners in Montana.

• Certification to participate in a special application preparation cost-share program.

The registration deadline for the Havre workshop is Wednesday, Nov. 10. Registration is $55, which includes cover, lunch and writing materials. A $10 discount is available for people who register online at http://www.ncat.org/meetings.

Local grant-writers have an opportunity to bone up on a federal program to help pay for renewable energy projects in a workshop in Havre Nov. 16.

Butte's National Center on Appropriate Technology is hosting "Tapping Clean Energy for Rural Montana's Future," a workshop to teach grant writers about the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.

REAP provides grants and loans for agricultural or small business renewable energy projects and for improved energy-efficieny projects.

The workshop is scheduled to run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Center at Montana State University-Northern. It is planned to be repeated after the holidays in Billings.

The workshop will train participants in:

• A better understanding of utility, state and federal rebate, loan and grant programs for energy efficiency and renewable energy development.
• A better understanding of the complexity of the REAP's and other programs' applications, including energy audit or assessment requirements.
• Educational and sample materials for use with REAP and other applications. Basic training in grant-writing and packaging these applications.
• The opportunity to cultivate grant writing jobs, and start a network of grant writers serving farmers, ranchers and small business owners in Montana.
• Certification to participate in a special application preparation cost-share program.

The registration deadline for the Havre workshop is Wednesday, Nov. 10. Registration is $55, which includes cover, lunch and writing materials. A $10 discount is available for people who register online at http://www.ncat.org/meetings.