The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces competitive grants to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).
Donor Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Territory: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $5,000,000
Grant Duration: 36 months
Details:
The purpose of the HBIIP is to increase significantly the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. The program is also intended to encourage a more comprehensive approach to market higher blends by sharing the costs related to building out biofuel-related infrastructure.
Rural Development Key Priorities
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:
- Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
- Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
- Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $500,000,000
- The grant period is not to exceed 36-months, unless otherwise specified in the Grant Agreement or agreed to by the Agency
- Grants for up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs, but not more than $5 million, are made available to:
- owners, including affiliated entities, of 10 or fewer transportation fueling facilities, including local fueling stations/locations; convenience stores; and hypermarket fueling stations; and
- owners of home heating oil distribution facilities who have at least 80 percent of their average annual throughput volume coming from home heating oil, including affiliated entities. An affiliate is an entity controlling or having the power to control another entity, or a third party or parties that control or have the power to control both entities
- Grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but not more than $5 million, are made available to owners of:
- more than 10 transportation fueling facilities, including, but not limited to, local fueling stations/locations; convenience stores; and hypermarket fueling stations;
- fleet facilities including rail and marine; and
- fuel distribution facilities, including fuel terminal operations; midstream operations;
- and/ or distribution facilities including home heating oil distribution facilities with more than 80 percent of their average annual throughput volume coming from home heating oil.
Eligibility Criteria
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- City or township governments
- State governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Special district governments
- Individuals
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- County governments
- Owners of transportation fueling facilities and owners of fuel distribution facilities may apply for this program. Eligible facilities must be located in the United States and its territories and include fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket retailer fueling stations, fleet facilities (including automotive, freight, rail and marine), and similar entities with equivalent capital investments, as well as fuel/ biodiesel terminal operations, midstream operations, and heating oil distribution facilities or equivalent entities.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
