U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn announced today more than $2.8 million in grants to agriculture producers and rural small businesses to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will lower their energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resilience of their operation.
The projects advance President Biden and Vice President Harris’ Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. Grant funding is made possible through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
“President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to invest in projects that not only provide clean energy, but ultimately bring jobs and lower energy bills for rural Oklahomans,” Corn said. “This historic investment in our Rural Oklahoma economy is the direct result of the Biden-Harris Administration implementing the Inflation Reduction Act to bring historic growth of our rural Oklahoma communities and Tribal Nations by growing the economy from the middle out and bottom up.”
The Department is awarding the Oklahoma grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), including funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.
In Oklahoma 21 businesses, entities and agricultural producers received grant funding. These projects include wind turbines, solar panels, energy efficient heating and cooling systems and other energy efficiency improvements.
“Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than 17.8 million through REAP to support Oklahoma businesses and agriculture producers combined to save millions of dollars a year on energy costs due to these investment in clean energy,” Corn said. “Not only do these obligations decrease demand on our rural power supply, but the culmination of these projects also reduces the cost share for all Oklahomans by protecting the long-term stability of our electric grid. Ultimately these are real dollars that will make real impacts for strengthening our Oklahoma economy for many more years to come. There is still an opportunity for applicants to reach out to us for future grant announcements by contacting our State Office at okenergy@usda.gov.”
The following businesses, producers and entities in Oklahoma received grant funding during this round:
- Commercial Rental Property of Enid, $349,698
- Bates Farm Operation of Lookeba, $57,250
- Boehs Building Supply of Fairview, $43,200
- Tim’s Bodyworx of Guthrie, $75,501
- Ishko of Tishomingo, $53,625
- Progressive Development Corp. of Stillwater, $61,118
- E&M Repp Farm Operation of Fort Cobb, $57,250
- G Properties of Stillwater, $64,837
- Maulding Farm Operation of Eucha, $21,300
- Devore Farm Operation of Laverne, $23,823
- Triple S Farms of Albert, $334,366
- T&A Holdings of Mead, $99,500
- OM Sai Hotel Group of Ada, $99,250
- Hopewell Land of Hydro, $64,723
- Trickett Farm Operation of Stigler, $85,000
- Hudiburg Ford of Wellston, $253,080
- Sooner Pork of Holdenville, $193,800
- Bauer LLC of Tulsa, $27,300
- LOR Farms of Colcord $78,400
- Robinson Brothers Pork of Holdenville, $306,000
- Robinson Family Farms of Calvin, $443,555
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. To learn more, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ok.
