Funding

DOE Funds Solutions for PV Reuse and Recycling  
If you’re working on solutions for end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) or other electronic waste, DOE’s recently announced $35 million funding opportunity could support your efforts. The Reducing EMbodied-Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Manufacturing Institute is seeking transformational technologies and research and development projects that can increase circularity of electronic waste, including PV. Submit your proposals by October 19 at 4 p.m.

Solar on Schools

Through a vision and generous support from the Couillard Solar Foundation, MREA launched Solar on Schools to provide resources and grants to Wisconsin K-12 schools and select colleges pursuing solar PV systems. Grant: Wisconsin schools and colleges can apply for an in-kind module grant per school building installing solar. Grants are awarded up to 50 kW DC with a corresponding value of $20,000. Resource Center: They have compiled case studies, RFP and other templates, guiding documents, finance modeling tools, expert-presented videos, a WI school peer network and more to help schools Solar Planning Teams develop and execute a solar project.

Grant Writing Basics Blog Series
Learn tips and advice for writing federal grant applications through the Grant Writing Basics Blog Series. The goal of the series is to provide the essential basics to begin writing on a solid foundation.

Topics covered include:
·    How to Start Working on Future Funding Opportunities
·    Demystifying Funding Opportunity Announcements
·    Tips to Avoid Last Minute Problems
·    Making Sure You Are Eligible before Writing

For more information

Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Funding
Focus on Energy has a $4.8 million budget for 2020 for renewable energy incentives for commercial and multifamily businesses, local governments and schools, and residents. More than $4.2 million has been allocated with amounts remaining, as of June 30, 2020, in each incentive category listed below.

Incentive	Amount Remaining
Residential Renewable Incentives	$126,369
Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 0 to 100 kW	$131,977
Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 100 to 300 kW	$42,787
Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 300+ kW	$0
Rural Bonus Incentives	$0
Agricultural Producer Bonus Incentives	$30,039

Residential rural customers will get up to a $500 bonus for installing a system (see eligible rural ZIP codes). The bonus received cannot be larger than the prescriptive incentive. It will be equal to the incentive amount or $500. Agricultural producers (business customers) will qualify for an incentive match up to $10,000.

For more information and to apply for incentives

BCPL Funds School Clean Energy Projects
The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) makes loan funds available to Wisconsin School Districts for school energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Board recognizes the economic materiality of climate change and potential impacts of climate change on investments. BCPL manages $1.2 billion in State Trust Funds that benefit K-12 public schools and the University of Wisconsin.

Applications
For more information about the funding opportunity
Direct questions to the BCPL Loan Officer.

 

DOI BOR WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency for FY21 – $1.5 million

Applications Due: September 30, 2020 for FY21 Eligible Entities: states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the Western United States or United States Territories The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is to invite states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of hydropower; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; enable farmers to make additional on-farm improvements in the future, including improvements that may be eligible for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States.and provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment to mitigate impacts caused by drought. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

 

COVID-19 Financial Assistance
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing a number of programs to provide financial reprieve to small businesses and nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance was intended to provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses experiencing temporary loss of revenue as a result of the coronavirus. Due to the big response from businesses nationally the first week of April, the SBA has implemented a $1,000 cap per employee on the advance, up to a maximum of $10,000. For example, a business with four employees, would be eligible to receive only $4,000 up front.

Eligible entities include any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19.

Express Bridge Loans
SBA Express Bridge Loans allow small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for a decision and disbursement on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.

SBA Debt Relief 
SBA’s Debt Relief effort includes:

• Automatic payment of the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.
• Automatic payment of the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.

Other Funding Resources
Rural Resource Guide for COVID-19
USDA released a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.

The Guide provides a table of funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act that can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities. Links are divided into three areas: technical, training, and management assistance; financial assistance; and state and local assistance.

UW-Madison Small Business Development Center
The UW-Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no- cost consulting  and assistance in this time of economic challenges due to COVID-19. There are SBDC offices across the state.