In addition to the work we do directly with rural communities, we also step in to bridge other rural gaps as we are able and that align with our mission. One example of this is our recent partnership with Zero Emissions Northwest (ZEN).
ZEN was awarded a USDA grant in 2023 to provide technical assistance to rural farmers/agribusinesses and qualified small rural businesses to apply for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. These grants help offset costs to make operations more energy efficient, thus saving on monthly costs while also helping the environment. ZEN was very successful in this endeavor, helping businesses in Washington secure grants to offset the cost of modernizing their equipment or facilities. When the second round of technical assistance funding grants opened, ZEN planned to re-apply; however the criteria had changed and private entities were no longer eligible applicants. ZEN needed a nonprofit partner to continue providing assistance to rural businesses in Washington.
We were connected with ZEN via the good folks at Avista Utilities. After vetting the company, its leadership and their track record, we knew this was a gap PRWA could step into to serve rural Washington businesses behind-the-scenes. It was also an opportunity to be a good neighbor to Oregon and Idaho as they would be included in the coverage territory. PRWA submitted its application (with ZEN as a subcontractor), requesting $125,000 to continue ZEN’s work. Given ZEN’s strong track record, we were awarded $250,000! PRWA will assist ZEN by doing outreach in the communities we serve to spread awareness about REAP and the free technical assistance available from ZEN.
As of the writing of this email, ZEN has a 100% success rate. To date, 42 farmers and rural small businesses have won REAP grants for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements across Washington, Idaho and Oregon. This amounts to over $2.1M in grant funding, supporting $4.5M of energy saving projects. Not only do rural businesses and their communities benefit, ZEN, a Washington start-up, benefits, as does PRWA. Just one more example of how PRWA strives for win-win-win partnerships for rural Washington.
Take care,
Jody
