We win REAP grants for your energy projects.

What is USDA-REAP?

The Rural Energy for America Program can offer reimbursement grants for 50% of your energy project’s costs.


Who’s eligible for a REAP grant?
Any business that’s small and rural, as well as farms of any size.

Why hire a grant writer?
A USDA-REAP application can be a complicated, fragmented, and competitive process. You want it done right, by someone with deep experience who knows how to get your maximum score.

Working with Lightshed:

  • Deep knowledge of scoring system to maximize your score

  • 9 years of expertise

  • Active in 40+ states

  • High success rate (hundreds of successful applications)

  • Efficient— 1-2 week turnaround for most projects

  • High attention to detail

  • All digital

  • Easy drag-and-drop file uploads

  • MyDashboard for easy viewing and taking action on all your projects

Our Process

Simple. Fast. Accurate.

01 | Upload Files

If you ask us to complete a REAP application package, all we ask of you is to answer a few basic questions and upload some files through our simple drag-and-drop portal. This takes most applicants 10-20 minutes.

02 | Review & e-sign

You can expect 1-2 weeks until it’s time for you to review and e-sign the finished application. Then we ensure your application is successfully submitted to USDA.


Efficiency

  • Streamlined—We are tooled specifically for REAP grant writing.

  • Quick—Our target for your interaction with us is 10-20 minutes across only a few key milestones.

  • Drag-and-drop—One-stop file drop portals to minimize errors and emails.



About Us


User Experience

  • MyDashboard lets you view and take action on all your open projects, and start new projects with all your company's information pre-filled.

  • Easy—We're sure our process requires the least legwork from clients compared to other grant writers.

  • All Digital—Most applications require no downloading, printing, scanning, or manual editing of files.


Expertise

  • Score Maximization—Unlike most other grant writers, we proactively identify and clearly present opportunities to increase the project score you might come to us with.

  • Credentials — Our small team is NABCEP credentialed, and understands how to write an application that has your project stand out above others.

  • Relationships—Experience and lines of communication already established in 40+ US states.


Both Rural Small Businesses (breweries, car dealerships, hotels, warehouses, coffee shops, retail stores, etc.) and Farms are eligible for REAP.


Two Paths to
USDA-REAP Eligibility

01 | Rural Small Businesses

Are you Rural?

Check the USDA-REAP Rural Eligibility Map to make sure the project address is located in an eligible rural area. (Select the "Eligibility-RBS" Map Layer)


Are you Small?

That depends on the industry you’re in. Use the SBA Size Standards Tool to find your industry and see if your revenue (or employee count) puts you in the “small” category for that industry. Be sure to include any parent/affiliate companies in your math.

02 | Farms

Farms have no size or geographical restrictions. You can be a huge farm. You can be an urban farm. You do not need to meet any of the “rural small business” requirements.

However, those applying as a Farm will need to prove that more than 50% of their household income comes from the sale of agricultural products. If this is not the case, your farm business then will need to be considered eligible as a “rural small business," and apply that way.


What businesses are the best applicants for REAP? (highest scoring)

Click here to see our bullet list.

*** Higher scores are possible for projects in
Distressed and Disadvantaged Communities.***

Still not sure if you’re eligible?

We can guide you with some basic questions using our REAP Eligibility Walkthrough Tool.

Or you can reach out to your State Energy Coordinator.

  • Incobrasa Industries (IL) — $1,000,000 grant offered

  • Verde Light Community Solar LLC (OR) — $1,000,000 grant offered

  • 35 Industrial Management (NH) — $735,000 grant offered

  • Cogsdill Tool Products (SC) — $400,000 grant offered

  • C&K Plastics (NC) — $800,000 grant offered

  • And hundreds more….

Recent Projects

Recent Reviews

How can we help your project?

Do you already have a project planned and ready for a grant writing quote?

Other Inquiries: