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Pallet C e nt ral • Janu a r y -Fe b r u a r y 2 0 24 41 Grants Summary: For The Wood Products Sector A source of capital that many businesses overlook or don't know how to leverage is federal grants. To help companies make investments that align with elected officials' priorities, Congress funds grant programs at varying levels every year. Sometimes, grant funds are disbursed directly to businesses from federal agencies; other times, those funds are provided first to the states, who then hold their application process. e federal government offers grant programs that can support wood products. Each grant program has its focus area, funding amount, availability window, and application rules. Typically, each program opens up for applications once a year. ese programs can be used as direct support to expand and retrofit wood energy systems, biomass systems, and investments that support sustainable forest management by retooling or adding advanced technology. What To Consider Longtime NWPCA member Remmey– e Pallet Company has regularly taken advantage of grants through their states. ese grants, of a few thousand dollars each, have covered costs for LEAN training or other professional development training like Microsoft Excel classes. Remmey found success applying for those grants themselves. About a year ago, they began exploring options for improving their sustainability. rough a consultant they hired, they were introduced to the prospect of solar energy. e consultant also identified that there may be United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding that might help offset some of their investments. Ben Remmey, President, said that the more they looked into the grant and the eventual ROI, it became a no-brainer to invest in the grant application process. e USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides guaranteed loans and grants for Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement. ree application windows are coming up in 2024. Grants are available for as little as $1,500 and for as much as $1 million. Based on tax credits and other incentives, Remmey decided to move forward with solar. e consultant they used to help them execute the solar project recommended applying for REAP funding. Due to the size of the award and the complexity of the grant writing process, Remmey determined that outsourcing the grant writing process would be best. Picking a grant writer was a straightforward process. Remmey was referred to a number of grant specialists by their hired consultant and also used Google to identify grant writers with expertise who were successfully applying for these types of grants. After calling ten writers, speaking with five, and narrowing it down to 2–3, they found someone to work with. e compensation for a grant writer depends on how busy they are and their areas of specialty. Typically, grant writers charge a flat fee ranging, on average, from $1,500 to $30,000. Whether or not his company is awarded REAP funds, Remmey says the relatively small investment for such a significant upside is well worth it. He had a few pointers for anyone considering applying for a grant: • Don't assume success in budgeting. In their case, Remmey plans to complete the solar project regardless "Recognize that grants are an all- or-nothing proposition. You'll get everything you asked for or zero, not a percentage."

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